320 Public Order
view to ensuring that the AML/CFT measures taken by the relevant sectors and organisations were in accordance with the established international standards.
In February and March 2009, the ND organised a series of annual AML/CFT training seminars for DNFBPs and NPOs in collaboration with various professional bodies including the Estate Agents Authority, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries and the Law Society of Hong Kong. The seminars have been accredited by these professional bodies as their Continuous Professional Development programmes. Over 1 400 practitioners from relevant sectors attended this series of seminars. Preparations. were being made for the next round of seminars for the non-financial sectors in early 2010.
Separately, the ND, together with the Joint
together with the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit, introduced a series of sector-specific educational programmes to relevant sectors to raise the practitioners' awareness of AML/CFT.
In June 2009, the ND published a revised interactive training kit for the DNFBPS including accountants, estate agents, precious metals and precious stones dealers as well as trust and company service providers. The training kit provides them with sector-specific red flag indicators on money laundering and financing of terrorism, case examples and useful information on how to file reports on suspicious transactions.
The ND is fully committed to combating money laundering and terrorist financing among the non-financial sectors and will continue to ensure that Hong Kong's AML/CFT regime meets the international standards.
Independent Commission Against Corruption
Hong Kong continues to be one of the most corruption-free cities in the world, taking pride in its clean civil service and a fair and vibrant business environment.
The Berlin-based Transparency International rated Hong Kong the 12th least corrupt place amongst 180 regions polled in its 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index. The non-governmental organisation, regarded as an international anti-corruption watchdog, commended the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) for their intensified anti-corruption efforts in the midst of the global financial crisis.
The ICAC, Hong Kong's anti-corruption agency, has its independent status enshrined in the Basic Law. Its commissioner is directly accountable to the Chief Executive. Through a comprehensive strategy of law enforcement, prevention and education, corruption is kept well under control in the territory.
The year 2009 marked the 35th Anniversary of the inception of the ICAC. The agency is committed as ever to combating corruption in Hong Kong as well as in the international arena. In December, the ICAC organised the Fourth ICAC Symposium to exchange views with experts from around the world on effective strategies to combat corruption and economic crimes. With the European Anti-Fraud Office of
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.