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The Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (FIIB) organised the Anti-money Laundering (AML) Month in August, aimed at raising the general public and specific community’s awareness of related risks through diversified activities and enhancing the public-private partnership to strengthen the efforts to combat money laundering. One of the highlights was the Financial Institutions AML Forum 2025 held on August 19. Over 200 representatives from policy bureaux, financial regulators, law enforcement agencies, academics, technology experts as well as over 40 representatives from financial institutions and institutions providing virtual asset services attended the event.
Commissioner Chow Yat-ming officiated the forum. During his speech, he pointed out that the rapid advancement of technology nowadays, the anonymity of virtual assets, the convenience of cross-border financial intermediation, and the widespread application of deepfake technology etc. have significantly increased the complexity and severity of the money laundering issue. He emphasised that government departments, regulatory bodies and the private sector needed to work together to combat money laundering activities. The Commissioner, along with the Deputy Chief Executive of Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Mr Arthur Yuen and other officiating guests, also launched the icebreaker Project AccFencers in the opening ceremony, signifying that all sectors will sail forward together to break the ice with concerted efforts to smash the money laundering iceberg.
The forum comprised two panel discussions, hosted by the officer in-charge of FIIB and the deputy in command of Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau respectively. Professionals from banks, stored value facilities, academia, technology sector, those involved in AML and other stakeholders shared insights into measures to combat stooge accounts and financial crimes with the use of deepfake technology. They also discussed the best practices on tackling money laundering crimes.
In addition to the forum, the FIIB also organised several promotional activities during the AML Month including the shuttling of the AML promotional truck Project AccFencers across the territory from August 3 to 16; setting up the first ever AML stand fixture in all retail banks on August 3, 10 and 16 in collaboration with the HKMA, the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB), the Consulate General of Philippines in Hong Kong and the Consulate General of Indonesia in Hong Kong, as well as the banking industry; publishing an AML educational booklet titled Black and White on August 5; uploading AML promotional video to the Force’s Xiaohongshu, Douyin and Weibo on August 11, which have been simultaneously uploaded to the WeChat public account of the National Anti-Fraud Center; and holding a Flashmob AML Quiz on August 16.
