The course conducted in English was held from October 20 to 24, while the one in Cantonese was held from November 3 to 7.

A total of 84 officers from 10 jurisdictions have attended the courses, including 19 from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. There were also nine participants from the Ministry of Public Security, the Guangdong and Guangxi Public Security Bureaux and the Macao Judiciary Police.

At the end of the courses, the Director of Crime and Security, Mr Chau Foo-cheong, and the Assistant Commissioner (Crime), Mr Lo Yik-kee, presented certificates to the participants.

Speakers from a variety of professions had addressed the participants on a number of anti-money laundering issues, including the development of an effective legal and financial regulatory framework, intelligence exchange, financial investigation and international co-operation. The speakers consisted of experienced local and overseas law enforcement officers, government policy co-ordinators, legal experts, accountants, financial regulators and compliance officers of international banks.

Head of the Narcotics Bureau, Mr Ip Lau-chuen told OffBeat that the courses had provided an alternative but unique forum for law enforcement officers in the Region to share experiences in the management of financial investigations, and to discuss the multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency approach against money laundering.

He reminded participants in his opening address: "Money laundering does not limit itself to the use of financial institutions and conventional financial instruments. To maintain our effectiveness and relevancy, we need to be vigilant of any emerging trends and methods, and to develop skills and measures to identify and dismantle money laundering schemes well before they mature and become sophisticated."

The conduct of the courses this year has differed substantially from those in previous years, in that they were more a workshop for experience sharing than a classroom of lectures, as participants could benefit more through discussion and mutual inspiration in a workshop environment.

Inspector Motonori Kobayashi of the National Police Agency of Japan told OffBeat: "The course has not only provided me with knowledge and skills to conduct financial investigation, but also more importantly enlightened me on the wider anti-money laundering issues. The workshop approach has facilitated discussions and helped me establish closer contact and friendship with other participants, which will stand me in good stead. These are somethings that I certainly will cherish!"

Director of Crime and Security, Mr Chau Foo-cheong, presents certificate to Inspector Motonori