The 13th Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Tripartite CID Heads Meeting took place in Huizhou on April 19. This time, officers at more senior ranks from the three places led the delegations to the meeting, underlining the increasing importance attached to the event.

The Force delegation was headed by Mr Yam Tat-wing, Deputy Commissioner (Operations), while Mr Zheng Dong, Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, led the Mainland delegates. Macao was represented by a delegation led by Mr J P Branco, Commissioner General of the Unitary Police Service.

More than 40 delegates attended the tripartite meeting, including leading members of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ministry of Public Security, the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office, the Police Liaison Departments in the Liaison Offices of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and the Macao SAR as well as the Huizhou Municipal Public Security Bureau.

The Force delegation comprised Director of Crime and Security Lee Ka-chiu, Assistant Commissioner (Crime) Wong Fook-chuen, Organised Crime and Triad Bureau Chief Superintendent Choy Kin-cheung, Criminal Intelligence Bureau Chief Superintendent Lo Mung-hung, Commercial Crime Bureau Chief Superintendent Chan Yiu-kwok, Narcotics Bureau Senior Superintendent Evelyn Lam Man-sai, and Liaison Bureau Senior Superintendent Kwok Ho-fai as well as his colleagues.

Progress summation

The three parties gave a summation of the progress that had been made in tripartite co-operation since the last meeting. They unanimously agreed that their co-operation had been fruitful, contributing to the maintenance of public order and enhancement of the economic prosperity of Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong.

The parties' discussion was focused on the difficulties encountered in their co-operation and the ways to solve them. In addition to a proposal of joint action against triad activities, views were exchanged on the strategies to combat drug trafficking. Other equally concerned topics discussed at the meeting included exchange of experience in police work, joint action against illegal cross-boundary gambling, commercial crimes, electronic evidencing and tripartite co-operation in investigating cases involving computer websites.

In the face of science and technology developing at an amazing speed and criminal tactics emerging in quick succession, the parties agreed to maintain close liaison, enhance training for law enforcement officers from the three places, and exchange intelligence in a more frank manner.

Meeting mechanism

The delegates highly praised the mechanism to hold regular meetings among tripartite key members in criminal investigation for playing an important role in enhancing co-operation among Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong. The delegates noted that the mechanism had become a significant policy-making platform on which co-operation in policing could be further developed. Based on this solid foundation, the three parties indicated that they would continue to expand the realm of co-operation, create new modes for co-operation and enhance ability in combating terrorism and cross-boundary crimes, and in dealing with emergencies.

The parties' ultimate aim is to contribute proactively to the establishment of a harmonious community in Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong.

Finally, the meeting unanimously passed Mr Yam's proposal to hold the 14th Tripartite CID Heads Meeting in Hong Kong in April next year.

The Force delegation at the tripartite meeting