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Symposium on Police Studies

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Mr Sun added that the symposium achieved its targets through exchange and discussion in the event, and the parties concerned reached consensus on a wide range of issues in connection with police co-operation and joint efforts against cross-boundary economic crimes.

In closing, Mr Sun thanked all the participants, including police officers, academics and relevant departments, for their active involvement. He also thanked the Force for contributing significantly to the success of the event by investing a huge amount of resources and delivering services to the delegates.

It was the second time the Force was invited by the PAC to co-host the Symposium on Police Studies of the Strait cum Hong Kong and Macao. The opening ceremony was held at Police Headquarters on October 20. The officiating guests were President of the PAC, Mr Tian Qiyu; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zhou Junming; Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee; Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung; Honorary Chairman of Taiwan Criminal Investigation and Prevention Association, Mr Wang Cho-chun; and Secretary for Security, Macao SAR, Mr Cheong Kuoc Va.

Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, said at the opening ceremony that there had been increasingly frequent flow of people and goods within the four jurisdictions in recent years. The cross-boundary crimes arising from the contacts in business, trade and visits had posed a big challenge to the police of all jurisdictions. He pointed out that it was vital to further co-ordination and support among international as well as regional enforcement agencies to tackle such crimes. He believed the symposium would provide an effective platform for the forces to get together to take up this new challenge by sharing ideas and promoting co-operation.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung pointed out that criminals' modus operandi was constantly changing. Organised crime syndicates always shifted their unlawful businesses and assets from one place to another, making it more difficult to track down criminals and crime proceeds, as this often required cross-jurisdictional investigations. "The symposium offers us a golden opportunity to pool our wisdom to work out effective strategies and explore new methods to combat cross-boundary economic crimes and recover proceeds of crime. Through exchange and sharing of experience, we can further enhance the co-operation among the four jurisdictions, with a view to achieving substantive and fruitful results," Mr Tsang added.

In conclusion, Mr Tsang said: "Our varied historical, social and cultural backgrounds have given rise to differences in legal systems and enforcement practices. Nonetheless, the Force will maintain co-operation on various fronts, and comply with the laws and regulations of the respective jurisdiction under the existing mechanism of 'One Country Two System' and the Basic Law. We will continue working with our counterparts to study and explore effective means to promote and reinforce police co-operation, with a view to jointly combatting cross-boundary criminal activities through different channels."

Mr Tsang thanked the Steering Committee, headed by Police College Director Kevin Woods, and its sub-working groups for making the symposium successful.

Mr Woods said later: "Hosting the symposium in Hong Kong provides an excellent learning opportunity for Force members. To share the fruits of the dedicated efforts in practical policing research, and to enhance the knowledge of the Force, an invitation was extended to Force members to join the seven sessions of the symposium. However, due to limited seating capacity, not everyone who wanted to attend could join and therefore the 61 academic papers will be uploaded onto POINT for force-wide dissemination."