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Some 500 delegates
from 33 countries and regions participated in a four-day conference
beginning in Hong Kong on March 18, 2002. Taking as its theme "Bridging
the GAP - a Global Alliance Perspective on transnational organized
crime", this was the first multi-national conference ever organised
by the Force. The participants, from a total of 137 organisations,
included top echelons of law enforcement agencies, lawyers, executives
from the banking and finance sectors, academics and various other
professionals.
Notable keynote
speakers at the conference included Interpol's Secretary-General
Ronald K. Noble; the Director, Criminal Investigation Department
of China's Ministry of Public Security Zhang Xin-feng; the UK's
Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Keith Povey; the Commissioner
of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Giuliano Zaccardelli; the Commissioner
of the Australian Federal Police Michael Keelty; the Commissioner
of Singapore Police Khoo Boon-hui; the United States' Assistant
Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation Ronald L. Iden; and
Professor Michael Levi of Cardiff University, Wales.
Apart from
the Commissioner of Police, Mr Tsang Yam-pui, other prominent local
participants included the Hon. Chief Justice, Mr. Andrew Li Kwok-nang;
and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr I. G. Cross.
A total
of 12 panel sessions were held to discuss the background, magnitude
and scope for developing long-term strategies and co-operation in
dealing with cyber crime, money laundering, changing trends in narcotic
crime and triad societies. These panels were addressed by leading
experts in each field, and delegates were also taken on a visit
to Hong Kong's container terminal in Kwai Chung and a tour of Tsing
Ma Bridge, followed by demonstrations by the Force's Small Boat
Unit and Special Duties Unit in Tseung Kwan O.
As the Commissioner
of Police remarked in his opening address, transnational organised
crime existed as a huge threat today.
"The
revenues run into billions of dollars and the criminals involved
know how to exploit every opportunity that is offered to them. Since
transnational crime does not care about national or regional jurisdictions
or about the limitations that are imposed upon those fighting its
activities, law enforcement officers should think more widely. Perhaps
a single crime is part of a much wider conspiracy. But if one organisation
deals only with that crime and fails to think through the implications,
then bigger crimes can go undetected and unpunished. Everyone has
to co-operate because the fight against transnational organised
crime goes beyond our normal horizons."
In summing up,
the Commissioner highlighted four points that he considered important
in the fight against transnational organised crime: to avoid finger
pointing and indulging in endless discussion of who was at fault;
to respect each other's strengths and weaknesses and always consider
whether a case being dealt with might have implications for another
country or countries; to be ready to share expertise and specialist
equipment; and to actively increase the sharing of information and
investigations as well as encourage more face-to-face contacts.
The Commissioner
said in his closing address that the four-day conference was a success.
"We have gained new insights, we have learned from each other
and most importantly I hope trust has been established."
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