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     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the International Forum on Combating Money Laundering and Transnational Organized Crimes: Criminal Networks, Trade Dynamics and Beyond today (December 10):

Mr Osawa (Head of the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific of the World Customs Organization, Mr Toshihiko Osawa), Mr Tang (Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung), Commissioner Ho (Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho), distinguished guests, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to the opening of this International Forum on Combating Money Laundering and Transnational Organized Crimes.

     This is the first time that the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department hosts such an important international forum. This event testifies to the Hong Kong Government’s commitment to combating transnational organised crimes and money laundering activities by strengthening international co-operation. It is an ideal platform for all participants coming from different organisations and jurisdictions to share knowledge and experiences on this important subject matter.

     Hong Kong is a well-known international trade, financial and logistic centre. To maintain and enhance such a status, Hong Kong has all along been sparing no efforts in combating money laundering and transnational organised crimes. Under the principle of “one country, two systems”, we have a reputable and efficient legal and judicial system based on the common law. To be more specific, we have enacted a substantial amount of domestic laws, which will be updated continuously to tackle transboundary crimes in line with international standards and Hong Kong’s international legal obligations. These laws are always strictly enforced by our faithful and effective law enforcement agencies such as the Hong Kong Customs together with my colleagues in the Department of Justice. All proceedings will be handled fairly by our Judiciary which exercises an independent power of adjudication. Let me give a few examples.

     I would like to begin by referring to the international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Hong Kong implemented its obligations under this international treaty back in 1976 by enacting the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance. It was updated and replaced by the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance in 2006. This statute was strictly enforced. Hence, for instance, about 420 seizures of endangered species were made in 2023.

     Turning to international financial crimes, our Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance, and Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, focus very much on effective prevention and early detection of suspicious transactions. Hong Kong has been a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) since 1991. In the fourth round of FATF mutual evaluation in 2018-19, Hong Kong’s anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) system has been assessed to be compliant and effective overall, making it the first jurisdiction in the Asia-Pacific region to have achieved an overall compliant result. The FATF also adopted Hong Kong’s follow-up report and recognised Hong Kong’s efforts in strengthening its AML/CFT regulatory regimes last year.

     Hong Kong plays an active role in international co-operation in different ways in combating money laundering and transnational organised crimes. Mutual legal assistance arrangements between different jurisdictions play an important role to enable effective prosecution of transboundary crimes, and recovery of assets or proceeds of crimes. In this respect, we have signed bilateral mutual legal assistance (MLA) agreements with 33 jurisdictions. In addition, 13 multilateral conventions targeting serious crimes which provide for MLA have been applied to Hong Kong, including the Palermo, Vienna and Merida Conventions. Even in the absence of applicable bilateral agreement or multilateral conventions, MLA may be provided on the basis of a reciprocity undertaking provided by the requesting place. Since 2022, Hong Kong has made 23 MLA requests and received 652 MLA requests – all of which are mainly related to cases of fraud, money laundering, corruption and smuggling.

     With the above MLAs, Hong Kong has been providing effective and timely assistance to various foreign jurisdictions. Let me share with you some examples. Recently, pursuant to a request from an East Asian country, we have successfully obtained from the High Court a restraint order freezing assets in the form of cryptocurrencies of a total value of more than US$20 million, suspected to be proceeds from a massive fraudulent scheme. Separately, regarding a request from Indonesia, we have restrained over US$8 million worth of assets, representing proceeds of offences of fraud and money laundering, with a view to repatriating the confiscated funds back to the victim in Indonesia. In yet another example, with the joint effort of INTERPOL and extensive information sharing and joint investigations by the police from Singapore and Hong Kong, a transnational syndicate allegedly involved in laundering ill-gotten gains derived from tech support scams, including around HK$33 million from the victims in Singapore, has been crippled in August this year, resulting in the arrest of eight people in Singapore and Hong Kong.

     Another important aspect of international co-operation is knowledge and experience sharing, including capacity building. International symposiums and conferences such as this one provide an excellent forum for such purposes. In this respect, the Department of Justice has been very active recently. On October 29 this year, I, as a member of the Chinese delegation and also the leader of the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) delegation, attended the 14th China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Prosecutors-General Conference in Singapore under the theme “Fostering Co-operation on Combating Financial Crimes”. At that conference, it was also decided that the next China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference will be held in Hong Kong in late 2025.

     More recently, between November 27 and 29, Hong Kong hosted the 11th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Prosecutors under the theme of “Effective Prosecution Service in the Technological Age”. In my opening speech, I said “Modern technology is, of course, not inherently evil; it becomes evil only when it is misused and abused by criminals. Our overriding objective is not only to prevent, suppress and punish such misuses and abuses but also to outwit the criminals by becoming better users of modern technology, and make modern technology our close ally in our war against the criminals.” This is why I am particularly delighted that, later today, I am going to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Hong Kong Customs and the University of Hong Kong under which a strategic partnership focusing on innovative technology will be formed.

     While Hong Kong is a firm, keen and strong supporter of international co-operation, I feel obliged to mention that it is subject to one important qualification in the light of some misconceived comments made by some foreign politicians and commenters in this respect. This is that international co-operation must be conducted in ways which are consistent with international laws and basic principles of international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Therefore, while the Hong Kong Government has been enforcing sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council fully and vigorously to fulfil our international obligations, we are not obliged to, and we do not, implement unilateral sanctions imposed by any other foreign countries that constitute a violation of both international law and the basic norms of international relations.

     Looking ahead, I wish to cite a traditional Chinese saying, in Chinese it is “æµ·ç´�百å·�，有容乃大” and in English “The ocean is vast for it refuses no rivers”. This proverb emphasises the importance of inclusivity and openness to diverse cultures, ideas, and perspectives. In our interconnected world where the common goal of combating international crimes effectively cannot be achieved without international co-operation, we must be open and receptive to new ideas, to learn from one another’s experiences and willing to adjust and modify our methods and strategies continuously. To this end, we look forward to forging closer ties with every one of you, and to sharing inspiring ideas, insights and opportunities in the course of this three-day conference.

     On this note, I wish you all a very fruitful and constructive conference. And for those of you coming from afar to Hong Kong, you come at the best time of the year in Hong Kong. I sincerely hope that, apart from taking part in the professional programmes, you could spend some time to experience the vibrant and diversified life of Hong Kong. Thank you very much. read more

     Hong Kong’s external direct investment (DI) statistics for 2023 were released today (December 10) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).
 
Stocks of DI
 
     At the end of 2023, the total stock of Hong Kong’s inward DI (i.e. the position of Hong Kong’s DI liabilities) increased by 6.2% over a year earlier to $18,376.1 billion. Its ratio to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at 616% in 2023. The increase in 2023 was mainly attributable to the positive DI inflow to Hong Kong.
 
     As for the total stock of Hong Kong’s outward DI (i.e. the position of Hong Kong’s DI assets), it increased by 3.8% over 2022 to $17,702.9 billion. Its ratio to GDP was 594% in 2023. The increase in 2023 was mainly attributable to the positive DI outflow to enterprises outside Hong Kong, partly offset by the drop in the total market values of non-resident enterprises which had received DI from Hong Kong during the year.
 
     Analysed by immediate source of investment, the mainland of China (the Mainland) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) were the two largest sources for Hong Kong’s inward DI, with a share of 31.1% and 30.5% respectively at end-2023. Analysed by major economic activity of Hong Kong enterprise groups (HKEGs) which had received inward DI, those engaged in investment and holding, real estate, professional and business services took up the largest share, at 67.1% at end-2023. This was followed by banking, at 11.6%; and import/export, wholesale and retail trades, at 10.8%.
       
     Analysed by immediate destination of investment, the Mainland and the BVI were also the two largest destinations for Hong Kong’s outward DI, with a share of 49.8% and 28.9% respectively at end-2023. Analysed by major economic activity of HKEGs which had made outward DI, those engaged in investment and holding, real estate, professional and business services took up the largest share, at 78.6% at end 2023. This was followed by import/export, wholesale and retail trades, at 8.4%.
 
Flows of DI
 
     In 2023, total DI inflow amounted to $954.9 billion, slightly smaller than that of $958.4 billion in 2022. On the other hand, total DI outflow in 2023 amounted to $752.9 billion, smaller than that of $931.3 billion in 2022. Taking the inflow and outflow together, a net DI inflow of $202.0 billion was recorded in 2023.
 
     Analysed by immediate source of investment, the Mainland was the major source of Hong Kong’s DI inflow in 2023, amounting to $385.8 billion. The BVI came next, at $305.2 billion. Analysed by major economic activity of HKEGs which had received DI inflow, those engaged in investment and holding, real estate, professional and business services attracted the largest amount in 2023, at $564.9 billion.
 
     Analysed by immediate destination of investment, the Mainland accounted for a predominant share of Hong Kong’s DI outflow in 2023, at $402.9 billion. The BVI came next, at $116.4 billion. Analysed by major economic activity of HKEGs which had made DI outflow, those engaged in investment and holding, real estate, professional and business services took up the largest amount, at $470.8 billion.
 
Commentary
 
     A Government spokesman said that Hong Kong’s total DI inflow and total DI outflow remained significant at $954.9 billion and $752.9 billion respectively in 2023 despite heightened geopolitical tensions and tightened global financial conditions.
 
     The stocks of overall inward and outward DI in Hong Kong were substantial at end-2023, at $18,376.1 billion and $17,702.9 billion (616% and 594% of GDP) respectively, making Hong Kong one of the world’s major destinations for and sources of external DI. The vast stock of external DI testifies that Hong Kong continues to be an international centre for finance and commerce, as well as a base for multinational corporations to manage their investments and businesses.
 
     Hong Kong’s DI covers a large geographical spread and a wide range of economic activities, with the Mainland featuring prominently both as a source and as a destination.
 
     The Government has stepped up its efforts to attract external DI and bring in more strategic enterprises from outside the city to set up headquarters or corporate divisions in Hong Kong. Up to November 2024, over 60 strategic enterprises have come to Hong Kong to set up or expand their operations. The Government will also soon submit a bill to the Legislative Council to introduce a mechanism to facilitate the re-domiciliation of companies to Hong Kong.
 
Further information
 
     DI represents external investment in which an investor of an economy acquires a lasting interest and a significant degree of influence or an effective voice in the management of an enterprise located in another economy. For statistical purpose, an effective voice is taken as being equivalent to a holding of 10% or more of the voting power in an enterprise.
 
     According to the international statistical standards, the total stocks and flows of DI presented above are compiled based on the “asset/liability principle”, while detailed DI figures analysed by country/territory and by major economic activity of HKEGs are based on the “directional principle”. Owing to the adoption of different presentation principles, the total stocks and flows of DI are different from the sums of the detailed DI figures by country/territory or by major economic activity of HKEGs. However, the overall direct investment balance compiled from figures based on these two presentation principles respectively is the same.
 
     Tables 1 and 2 show the positions (i.e. stocks) and flows of inward DI in Hong Kong by selected major investor country/territory and by major economic activity of HKEGs respectively for 2022 and 2023. Similar statistics on outward DI from Hong Kong are presented in Tables 3 and 4.
       
     More detailed statistics are given in the report “External Direct Investment Statistics of Hong Kong 2023”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1040003&scode=260).
 
     Enquiries about the DI statistics may be directed to the Balance of Payments Branch (2) of the C&SD at 3903 7024. read more

     The total gross value of construction works (GVCW) performed by main contractors in the third quarter of 2024 increased by 4.8% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $73.1 billion, according to the provisional results of the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output released today (December 10) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).
 
     After discounting the effect of price changes, the provisional results showed that the total GVCW performed by main contractors increased by 3.8% in real terms over the same period. GVCW in real terms is derived by deflating the corresponding nominal value with an appropriate price index to the price level in the base period of 2000.
 
     Analysed by type of construction works, the GVCW performed at private sector sites totalled $20.2 billion in the third quarter of 2024, down by 9.2% in nominal terms over a year earlier. In real terms, it decreased by 11.2%. The GVCW performed at public sector sites increased by 29.8% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $30.4 billion in the third quarter of 2024. In real terms, it increased by 30.8%.
 
     The GVCW performed by main contractors at locations other than construction sites amounted to $22.5 billion in the third quarter of 2024, down by 6.6% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier. In real terms, it decreased by 7.0%. Construction works at locations other than construction sites included minor new construction activities and decoration, repair and maintenance for buildings; and electrical equipment installation and maintenance works at locations other than construction sites.
 
     Analysed by major end-use group, the GVCW performed at construction sites in respect of residential buildings projects amounted to $19.9 billion in the third quarter of 2024, up by 5.1% in nominal terms over a year earlier. Over the same period, the GVCW performed at construction sites in respect of transport projects up by 10.5% in nominal terms to $10.8 billion in the third quarter of 2024.
 
     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, the GVCW performed by main contractors increased by 2.3% in nominal terms and 1.8% in real terms in the third quarter of 2024 compared with the second quarter of 2024.
  
     Table 1 shows the provisional figures on the GVCW performed by main contractors in the third quarter of 2024. Table 2 shows the revised figures for the second quarter of 2024.
 
     Owing to the widespread sub-contracting practices in the construction industry, a construction establishment can be a main contractor for one contract and a sub-contractor for another contract at the same time. The GVCW performed by main contractors covers only those projects in which the construction establishment takes the role of a main contractor, but not projects in which it takes only the role of a sub-contractor.  However, sub-contractors’ contribution to projects should have been included in the GVCW performed by main contractors for whom they worked.
 
     The classification of construction establishments follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
 
     More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1090002&scode=330).
 
     For enquiries about the survey results, please contact the Construction and Miscellaneous Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 6965; email: building@censtatd.gov.hk). read more

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (December 10) the results of the Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for November 2024.
 
     The current diffusion index (DI) on business receipts amongst SMEs decreased from 42.3 in October 2024 in the contractionary zone to 41.9 in November 2024, whereas the one-month’s ahead (i.e. December 2024) outlook DI on business receipts was 46.6. Analysed by sector, the current DIs on business receipts for some surveyed sectors dropped in November 2024 as compared with previous month, including the business services (from 50.0 to 45.9), restaurants (from 37.4 to 34.9), and retail trade (from 39.8 to 37.7).
       
     The current DI on new orders for the import and export trades increased from 44.7 in October 2024 to 45.1 in November 2024, whereas the outlook DI on new orders in one month’s time (i.e. December 2024) was 47.4.
 
Commentary
 
     A Government spokesman said that overall business sentiment among SMEs and their expectations on the business situation in one month’s time softened slightly in November, but the situation for different sectors varied. The overall employment situation remained generally stable.
 
     The spokesman added that increased global economic uncertainties and escalation of trade conflicts would pose pressures on business prospects. Yet, the Central Government’s recent introduction of various measures to boost the Mainland economy as well as its various measures benefitting Hong Kong should bode well for business sentiment. The Government will monitor the situation closely.
 
Further information
 
     The Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises aims to provide a quick reference, with minimum time lag, for assessing the short-term business situation faced by SMEs. SMEs covered in this survey refer to establishments with fewer than 50 persons engaged. Respondents were asked to exclude seasonal fluctuations in reporting their views. Based on the views collected from the survey, a set of diffusion indices (including current and outlook diffusion indices) is compiled. A reading above 50 indicates that the business condition is generally favourable, whereas that below 50 indicates otherwise. As for statistics on the business prospects of prominent establishments in Hong Kong, users may refer to the publication entitled “Report on Quarterly Business Tendency Survey” released by the C&SD.
 
     The results of the survey should be interpreted with care. The survey solicits feedback from a panel sample of about 600 SMEs each month and the survey findings are thus subject to sample size constraint. Views collected from the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own establishments rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in. Besides, in this type of opinion survey on expected business situation, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents’ perception of the business situation accords with the underlying trends. For this survey, main bulk of the data were collected around the last week of the reference month.
 
     More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey on the Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080015&scode=300).
 
     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; email: sme-survey@censtatd.gov.hk). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

Tender date	:	December 10, 2024
Paper on offer	:	EF Bills
Issue number	:	Q2450
Issue date	:	December 11, 2024
Maturity date	:	March 12, 2025
Amount applied	:	HK$159,602 MN
Amount allotted	:	HK$61,537 MN
Average yield accepted	:	3.99 PCT
Highest yield accepted	:	4.02 PCT
Pro rata ratio*	:	About 61 PCT
Average tender yield	:	4.13 PCT
****************************
Tender date	:	December 10, 2024
Paper on offer	:	EF Bills
Issue number	:	H2479
Issue date	:	December 11, 2024
Maturity date	:	June 11, 2025
Amount applied	:	HK$48,120 MN
Amount allotted	:	HK$14,000 MN
Average yield accepted	:	3.72 PCT
Highest yield accepted	:	3.76 PCT
Pro rata ratio*	:	About 19 PCT
Average tender yield	:	3.79 PCT

 
*”Pro rata ratio” refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant’s tendered amount at the “highest yield accepted” level.
 
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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning December 16, 2024:
 

Tender date	:	December 17, 2024
Paper on offer	:	EF Bills
Issue number	:	Q2451
Issue date	:	December 18, 2024
Maturity date	:	March 19, 2025
Tenor	:	91 Days
Amount on offer	:	HK$60,824 MN
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Tender date	:	December 17, 2024
Paper on offer	:	EF Bills
Issue number	:	H2480
Issue date	:	December 18, 2024
Maturity date	:	June 18, 2025
Tenor	:	182 Days
Amount on offer	:	HK$13,000 MN
****************************
Tender date	:	December 17, 2024
Paper on offer	:	EF Bills
Issue number	:	Y2498
Issue date	:	December 18, 2024
Maturity date	:	December 17, 2025
Tenor	:	364 Days
Amount on offer	:	HK$2,100 MN

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