The Force will host the 20th Interpol Asian Regional Conference (IARC) from March 4 to 6, 2008. This occasion will be another major commitment for the Force next year when around 200 delegates, including the President, Vice President and Secretary General of Interpol, plus senior police officials from the Asia Pacific Region and observers from international organisations, are expected to attend the conference, which will be held in the Multi-purpose Hall in Arsenal House.

Because of not being entitled to full membership of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), the Force will host the event for the first time in the capacity of a sub-bureau of the Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) China under the official name - Interpol Hong Kong, China. The Force has had the full endorsement of Interpol NCB China to host this renowned conference.

A biennial event, with the last one held in Jakarta in 2006, the IARC is aimed at promoting police co-operation in the Asia Pacific Region with a view to counteracting the increasing globalisation of transnational crime and terrorism. Hosting the IARC will be beneficial to both the Force and Hong Kong as a whole, and will further advance the strategic partnership and collaboration among the Force, Interpol and the Force's partners throughout the Region.

To coordinate preparation for the event, a full-time Conference Secretariat has been established, headed by Superintendent Lawrence Wong Ying-wai, who is assisted by Senior Inspector Rod Diaz and Woman Senior Inspector Jacqueline Choi. Additionally, six part-time sub-committees, each headed by a Superintendent in Crime Wing, will be responsible for a number of responsibilities, including programme, venue and facilities, registration management, transport and accommodation, social events and publicity.

The Conference Secretariat is a working party of the Organising Committee under the chairmanship of Assistant Commissioner (Crime) Wong Fook-chuen, who is assisted by his deputy, Chief Superintendent (Crime Headquarters) Ng Sai-kuen.

Participation by all is imperative

Commenting on hosting the IARC, Mr Wong said: "It's an honour to host the 20th Interpol Asian Regional Conference in Hong Kong. This is a very significant Force event and we're prepared to meet the challenge. As a Force event, participation and commitment by not only Crime Wing personnel, but also various Formations is imperative. The sub-committees set up so far are composite teams comprising officers from headquarters and Regions.

"The conference will certainly elevate the status and boost the image of the Force internationally and we're all looking forward to receiving our distinguished guests from Interpol and the Asia Pacific Region."

Meeting with Interpol NCB China

As the Conference Secretariat is now part of the Liaison Bureau, Senior Superintendent Matthew Kwok Ho-fai from the Bureau recently attended a meeting with Mr Jiang Shui, Deputy Director, Interpol NCB China, and the Interpol General Secretariat (IPSG) staff to discuss division of duties and budget arrangements for the IARC. With the assistance of Superintendent Tang Ping-keung and Senior Inspector Ho Chun-chung, both seconded to IPSG in Lyon, the meeting progressed smoothly.

"I'm glad to tell members of the Force that our representatives have extensively expanded the network with Interpol members on behalf of the Force. The Force also has Chief Inspector Wong Kwok-kit, who is seconded to the Interpol Liaison Office in Bangkok, to help publicise the conference in Southeast Asia. I met CIP Wong in Bangkok earlier this year and found him happily working in a dynamic multi-national team," said SSP Kwok.

Commenting on the contributions of the volunteer members on the six part-time sub-committees, Head of the Conference Secretariat, SP Lawrence Wong, said: "We're bound to them by ties of gratitude for their assistance in planning and executing the project. With unfailing teamwork, each sub-committee will assist the Secretariat in designing and implementing the conference programme, setting up the venue and procuring facilities, organising registration of delegates, working out massive transport and accommodation plans and, last but not least, arranging various social events and promoting the conference with publicity programmes. It will be an event to be remembered and will undoubtedly bring about closer co-operation among strategic law enforcement partners in the fight against transnational crime in the Asia Pacific Region under the auspices of Interpol."

Preparatory meeting with Interpol General Secretariat staff in Lyon