XN000022-1988-10-14 — Page 5

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1988

DEMAND FOR ACCOUNTANT TO HELP PROBE CRIMINAL CASES: AG

SAID TODAY (FRIDAY)

ASSIST

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, HE FORESEES A GREATER DEMAND ON THE SERVICES OF ACCOUNTANTS TO INVESTIGATORS IN FUTURE CRIMINAL CASES,

HE WAS SPEAKING ON THE TOPIC ACCOUNTANT AND AUDITOR" MEMBERS CONFERENCE HELD TODAY.

PUBLIC "FUTURE AT THE HONG KONG SOCIETY

DEMANDS ON THE OF ACCOUNTANTS

THE INVESTIGATIVE

PAST THE WORK OF MR MATHEWS SAID IN THE ACCOUNTANT HAD BEEN MORE 'REACTIVE' THAN 'PROACTIVE',

CALLED IN TO ACT AFTER THE "THAT IS TO SAY, HE IS USUALLY

OF THE ACCOUNTS POLICE OR ICAC HAVE CLEARED OUT THE ENTIRE CONTENTS

AND BUSINESS

HE IS THEN SECTION OF A BANK OR A LARGE

OF PAPER WITH A VIEW то PERUSE THE RESULTING MOUNDS

SEIZURE AND, WITH LUCK AND A FURTHER EVIDENCE WHICH SUPPORTS THE

OFFICER WHO INVESTIGATING

HAS GIVEN HIM A COMPETENT SUPERVISING

PROPER BRIEF, HE MAY EVEN FIND FRESH RELEVANT EVIDENCE,

INVITED TO IDENTIFYING

IT

HE SAID.

BELIEVES THIS WILL CHANGE AND

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID HE ACCOUNTANTS WILL BE CALLED IN EARLIER TO ADVISE INVESTIGATORS LINES OF INQUIRY WHICH THEY SHOULD PURSUE.

REFERRING

PROPOSAL

ΤΟ

ON THE

TO THE GOVERNMENT'S

INTRODUCE ACT 1986, HE LEGISLATION BASED ON THE UK DRUGS TRAFFICKING OFFENCES

ΤΟ MAKE CONFISCATION ORDERS SAID THIS WAS DESIGNED TO ALLOW JUDGES

FOR AMOUNTS EQUAL ΤΟ THE VALUE OF AGAINST CONVICTED TRAFFICKERS

FOUND TO HAVE THE ASSETS HELD BY THE TRAFFICKERS AND WHICH HAVE BEEN BEEN ACQUIRED OR GENERATED THROUGH TRAFFICKING IN DRUGS.

CONCERNED WITH THE SUSPECTED

HE EXPLAINED THAT ONE PART OF THIS ACT 1S MORE EFFICIENT INVESTIGATION OF THE FINANCIAL BACKGROUND OF

TRAFFICKERS.

IN THE

UK,

THE POLICE AND

CUSTOMS

AND

EXCISE HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH SPECIAL INFORMATION GATHERING POWERS WHICH ENABLE THEM,

RELEVANT AVAILABLE INFORMATION WITH THE COURT'S APPROVAL, TO GATHER FROM ANY ONE SEIZED OF IT.

SATISFIED THAT IF SUCH CONSIDERABLE AND EXCISE SERVICE CASE FOR HAVING ON HOW TO PHRASE S0 THAT ONLY NECESSARY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED

TO

MR MATHEWS SAID HE WAS POWERS ARE TO BE GIVEN TO THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS

THERE THEN

AN OBVIOUS LS AN IN HONG KONG AS WELL, ACCOUNTANTS ADVISE THESE BODIES AT AN EARLY STAGE REQUESTS FOR RELEVANT FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF MINIMUM DOCUMENTS ARE OBTAINED AND THE THOSE WHO ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE.

/"ONCE THIS