HK holds int'l commercial crime conference

HONG KONG - A two-day international commercial crime conference entitled "E-Crimes Without Borders -- E-Crimes Sans Frontieres" opened Tuesday at the Hong Kong Police Headquarters.

Co-hosted by the Hong Kong Police Force and the French National Police, the conference aims at addressing challenges posed by commercial crimes, especially cyber crimes which transcend international borders and challenge both law enforcement and the private sector on a daily basis.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, acting Director of Crime and Security of the Hong Kong Police Force John Ribeiro said that crimes committed across borders within the cyber world could not be addressed in isolation.

Engagement of law enforcement agencies and the private sector throughout the world was essential. The conference was to assist in further developing the framework of cooperation, Ribeiro added.

He hoped that participants in the conference would be in a better position to break down borders and work together to apprehend criminals where they might try to conceal themselves.

Speakers from local and international law enforcement agencies, academic and private sector will share their views on investigative challenges posed by increasing criminal activity in cyberspace throughout the world and the issues of subsequent laundering of crime proceeds.

The need for cooperation and corroboration between law enforcement and the private sector both at international and local levels, as well as the need to maintain training and capacity building at all times are also focus of the conference.

The conference attracted more than 100 delegates from 18 places across Europe and Asia-Pacific, including the Chinese mainland, Macao and Hong Kong.

Director of International Cooperation Department of the French National Police Emile Perez also officiated at the opening of the conference.