ICAC plays host to international anti-graft training programme as Hong Kong returns to normalcy
2022-12-13
Thirty representatives from local and overseas law enforcement organisations today (December 13) completed a nine-day specialist training course focusing on financial investigation hosted by the ICAC, the Commission’s first face-to-face training programme engaging participants from local and overseas counterparts since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ICAC’s Financial Investigation Specialist Training (FIST), themed “Fortifying Investigative Forces in Combating Corruption”, was attended by law enforcers from eight agencies of seven Southeast Asian countries, as well as those from the ICAC and four other local law enforcement agencies. It was set to enhance the anti-corruption capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region in view of the advance of technology and growing inter-dependence of the world’s financial systems, facilitating criminals to secure and hide their ill-gotten gains from corruption and related crimes.
ICAC Commissioner Mr Danny Woo Ying-ming stressed that FIST was held with a special purpose and meaning.
“We want to tell our friends from all over the world that Hong Kong has returned to normalcy and is ready to join hands with our counterparts in furthering our common cause of combatting corruption and related crimes,” Mr Woo said.
“Our collaboration through training and skills sharing will for sure bring us closer together in our cause, and in doing so, the ICAC will strive to serve our country and maintain Hong Kong’s reputation as an international financial centre,” Mr Woo added.
The nine-day FIST programme, held between December 5 and 13, featured presentations by senior ICAC forensic accountants on the Commission’s expertise in financial investigation, covering topics such as forensic investigation techniques, financial data analysis, illicit fund tracing, money laundering, asset recovery and mutual legal assistance.
The ICAC has always recognised the importance of financial investigation capabilities in effectively fighting corruption. As early as 2011, the Commission reached a milestone by establishing a dedicated Forensic Accounting Group comprising forensic accountants who were equipped with professional qualifications and extensive forensic accounting experience.
Mr Ricky Yau Shu-chun, the ICAC’s Deputy Commissioner and Head of Operations, remarked that the Group had greatly strengthened the Commission’s enforcement capabilities, especially in dealing with complex corruption investigations. Financial investigation had become an indispensable tool in the armory of any anti-corruption agency, Mr Yau noted.
“No law enforcement agencies can battle corruption crime alone. When we law enforcement agencies share and put together our expertise, the resulting efforts will be exponential. Hence it is obvious that international collaboration is the right direction for us,” Mr Yau added.
In addition to presentations and discussions, FIST also featured a guided tour to various ICAC facilities to demonstrate to the participants the Commission’s latest graft-fighting initiatives.
Participants also had the opportunities to learn first-hand Hong Kong’s latest development, including a guided visit to the Hong Kong Palace Museum at the West Kowloon Cultural District.
Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee cum Vice-Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, gave a presentation to the participants during the guided visit.
“Our graft-free society and level-playing field for business has always been fundamental to Hong Kong’s success as an international financial centre. We are glad that this kind of face-to-face training and exchange has resumed. This will allow overseas law enforcers to learn firsthand that a probity culture continues to be an important feature of our society,” Mr Chan said.
Among the 30 participants of FIST were 16 overseas participants from the Anti-Corruption Commission, Bhutan; Anti-Corruption Bureau, Brunei Darussalam; Anti-Corruption Unit, Cambodia, Corruption Eradication Commission, Indonesia; Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Malaysia; Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, Singapore; Singapore Police Force, Singapore; and National Anti-Corruption Commission, Thailand.
Locally, 14 participants, including eight ICAC officers and six law enforcers from the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC), Customs and Excise Department (C&E), Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), took part in the programme.
Arrangements were made for participants to visit other local law enforcement agencies and financial regulators, and attend sharing by guest speakers from the Department of Justice, HKPF, C&E, SFC, AFRC, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Hong Kong Jockey Club and Animoca Brands, a local-based multinational technology company.
The ICAC’s Financial Investigation Specialist Training (FIST), themed “Fortifying Investigative Forces in Combating Corruption”, was attended by law enforcers from eight agencies of seven Southeast Asian countries, as well as those from the ICAC and four other local law enforcement agencies. It was set to enhance the anti-corruption capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region in view of the advance of technology and growing inter-dependence of the world’s financial systems, facilitating criminals to secure and hide their ill-gotten gains from corruption and related crimes.
ICAC Commissioner Mr Danny Woo Ying-ming stressed that FIST was held with a special purpose and meaning.
“We want to tell our friends from all over the world that Hong Kong has returned to normalcy and is ready to join hands with our counterparts in furthering our common cause of combatting corruption and related crimes,” Mr Woo said.
“Our collaboration through training and skills sharing will for sure bring us closer together in our cause, and in doing so, the ICAC will strive to serve our country and maintain Hong Kong’s reputation as an international financial centre,” Mr Woo added.
The nine-day FIST programme, held between December 5 and 13, featured presentations by senior ICAC forensic accountants on the Commission’s expertise in financial investigation, covering topics such as forensic investigation techniques, financial data analysis, illicit fund tracing, money laundering, asset recovery and mutual legal assistance.
The ICAC has always recognised the importance of financial investigation capabilities in effectively fighting corruption. As early as 2011, the Commission reached a milestone by establishing a dedicated Forensic Accounting Group comprising forensic accountants who were equipped with professional qualifications and extensive forensic accounting experience.
Mr Ricky Yau Shu-chun, the ICAC’s Deputy Commissioner and Head of Operations, remarked that the Group had greatly strengthened the Commission’s enforcement capabilities, especially in dealing with complex corruption investigations. Financial investigation had become an indispensable tool in the armory of any anti-corruption agency, Mr Yau noted.
“No law enforcement agencies can battle corruption crime alone. When we law enforcement agencies share and put together our expertise, the resulting efforts will be exponential. Hence it is obvious that international collaboration is the right direction for us,” Mr Yau added.
In addition to presentations and discussions, FIST also featured a guided tour to various ICAC facilities to demonstrate to the participants the Commission’s latest graft-fighting initiatives.
Participants also had the opportunities to learn first-hand Hong Kong’s latest development, including a guided visit to the Hong Kong Palace Museum at the West Kowloon Cultural District.
Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee cum Vice-Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, gave a presentation to the participants during the guided visit.
“Our graft-free society and level-playing field for business has always been fundamental to Hong Kong’s success as an international financial centre. We are glad that this kind of face-to-face training and exchange has resumed. This will allow overseas law enforcers to learn firsthand that a probity culture continues to be an important feature of our society,” Mr Chan said.
Among the 30 participants of FIST were 16 overseas participants from the Anti-Corruption Commission, Bhutan; Anti-Corruption Bureau, Brunei Darussalam; Anti-Corruption Unit, Cambodia, Corruption Eradication Commission, Indonesia; Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Malaysia; Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, Singapore; Singapore Police Force, Singapore; and National Anti-Corruption Commission, Thailand.
Locally, 14 participants, including eight ICAC officers and six law enforcers from the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC), Customs and Excise Department (C&E), Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), took part in the programme.
Arrangements were made for participants to visit other local law enforcement agencies and financial regulators, and attend sharing by guest speakers from the Department of Justice, HKPF, C&E, SFC, AFRC, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Hong Kong Jockey Club and Animoca Brands, a local-based multinational technology company.
Thirty representatives from local and overseas law enforcement organisations complete the ICAC’s nine-day Financial Investigation Specialist Training.
ICAC Commissioner Mr Danny Woo hopes that the FIST programme can show the world that Hong Kong has returned to normalcy.
The FIST programme features presentations on ICAC’s expertise in financial investigation by senior officers of the Commission.
Mr Bernard Chan, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee cum Vice-Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, gives a presentation to participants on the latest development of the West Kowloon Cultural District.