XN000022-1985-03-31 — Page 14

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 1985

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ALSO QUESTIONS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,

THROUGH THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL ON MAY 10, 1978, IT EXAMINES AND REPORTS ON THE FINDINGS IN THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S REPORT ON THE AUDIT OF GOVERNMENT'S ANNUAL STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT PREPARED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES, AND ON ANY MATTER RELATING TO THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES AND THE EXERCISE OF HIS POWERS+ UNDER THE AUDIT ORDINANCE.

THE MAN WHO TRACKS INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL

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HONG KONG IS NOT THE BLACK SHEEP OF THE WORLD FINANCIAL COMMUNITY,'' NOR CAN IT CLAIM MORE WHEELER-DEALERS PER SQUARE METRE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

SO SAYS A MAN WHO TRACKS INTERNATIONAL CRIMINALS THROUGH MILES OF DENSE PAPERWORK AND OFTEN CATCHES THEM RIGHT ON HIS DESK.

AS THE HEAD OF HONG KONG'S COMMERCIAL CRIME BUREAU, CHIEF SUPER INTENDENT MIKE FARNHAM HAS PROBED THE INNER WORKINGS OF SOME HUGE MULTI-NATIONAL FRAUDS. HE HAS ALSO SEEN THE AMOUNTS OF MONEY LOSSES SOAR IN RECENT YEARS.

IN 1980, HIS BUREAU WORKED ON CASES INVOLVING REPORTED LOSSES OF $108 MILLION. IN 1981, THIS JUMPED TO $151 MILLION: 1982 SAW IT TOP $258 MILLION 1983, $440 MILLION AND LAST YEAR IT REACHED A STAGGER ING $620 MILLION.

''THIS WAS NOT AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OFFENCES,’' HE QUICKLY ADDS BUT ONLY IN THE AMOUNTS OF MONEY INVOLVED.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE COMMERCIAL CRIME SITUATION IN HONG KONG WAS ON A MUCH SMALLER SCALE. BUT TWO IMPORTANT FACTORS -- NEITHER OF THEM EXCLUSIVE TO THE TERRITORY COMBINED TO BRING ABOUT A DRAMATIC CHANGE.

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INCREASED CAPABILITIES IN TECHNOLOGY AND THE GROWTH OF INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC ARE PROVIDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WORLDWIDE, WITH NEW AND BIGGER HEADACHES EVERY DAY.

ADDED TO THIS, HONG KONG IS THE THIRD LARGEST FINANCIAL CENTRE IN THE WORLD - AFTER ROTTERDAM AND NEW YORK AND IT HAS THE LARGEST AIR-FREIGHT TERMINAL AND THE THIRD LARGEST CONTAINER PORT,

IN TERMS OF THROUGHPUT.

/CONSIDERING HONG