Founded in 1923, the International Criminal Police Organisation, better known as "INTERPOL", is the world's largest international police organisation. With 188 member countries, the organisation endeavours to push transnational co-operation among law enforcement agencies.

The Force joined INTERPOL in 1960. In 1997, INTERPOL Hong Kong, China became a Sub-Bureau of the National Central Bureau China in Beijing. Staffed by officers of the Liaison Bureau (LB), INTERPOL Hong Kong, China enjoys high autonomy in conducting daily INTERPOL businesses and actively participates in many INTERPOL's activities.

This article outlines the background of INTERPOL.

The INTERPOL General Secretariat (IPSG) in Lyon, France and its seven regional offices (in Argentina, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, El Salvador, Kenya, Thailand and Zimbabwe) work closely with all member countries and international organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union to combat transnational crime.

INTERPOL Hong Kong, China

The Force has been an active supporter of INTERPOL's businesses. For example it chairs the INTERPOL Asia and South Pacific Expert Group on Asian Organised Crime and the INTERPOL Asia-South Pacific Working Party on IT Crime. Over the years, it co-hosted several INTERPOL conferences and seminars, such as the 15th INTERPOL Symposium for Heads of Police Training in 2005 and the 20th INTERPOL Asian Regional Conference in 2008.

In future, the Force will also co-host the 1st INTERPOL Information Security Conference in September 2010. Together with the secondment of a Superintendent to the IPSG in Lyon, and a Chief Inspector to the INTERPOL Liaison Office in Bangkok, Thailand, the strategic partnership between the Force and the IPSG is becoming increasingly significant.

In the next issue, LB will continue outlining the services available from INTERPOL, as well as the organisation's core functions.

The INTERPOL General Secretariat in Lyon, France