HKU and the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 10 December to jointly promote research and development, as well as staff training in areas of virtual assets, blockchain technologies and intellectual property protection. The collaboration aims to enhance Hong Kong Customs’ enforcement capabilities in anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, and combating online infringement activities.

The MOU was signed by Professor David Srolovitz, Dean of Engineering of HKU, and Mr Mark Woo, Deputy Commissioner (Control and Enforcement) of Customs and Excise of the HKSAR Government, during the three-day International Forum on Combating Money Laundering and Transnational Organized Crimes. Mr Paul Lam, SC, Secretary for Justice; Mr Tang Ping-keung, Secretary for Security; Ms Louise Ho, Commissioner of Customs and Excise of the HKSAR Government; and Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU attended the signing ceremony.

HKU and Hong Kong Customs plan to organise training courses on anti-money laundering and technology enforcement for Customs members in the Asia-Pacific region. This will promote technological innovation in the areas of Customs services, as well as strengthen the Customs capacity building in the region and build a safe and stable global financial environment.

Photo (left):

Mr Paul Lam, SC, Secretary for Justice (second right); Mr Tang Ping-keung, Secretary for Security (second left); Ms Louise Ho, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise (third right); Mr Mark Woo, Deputy Commissioner (Control and Enforcement) of Customs and Excise of the HKSAR Government (first right); Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor (third left); and Professor David Srolovitz, Dean of Engineering of HKU (first left) took a group photo after the signing of the MOU. (Photo credit: HKSAR Government Press Release)

Photo (right):

Hong Kong Customs and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific hosted the International Forum on Combating Money Laundering and Transnational Organized Crimes from 10 to 12 December. Ms Louise Ho, Commissioner of Customs and Excise (third right); Mr Paul Lam, SC, Secretary for Justice (centre); Mr Tang Ping-keung, Secretary for Security (second right); Mr Toshihiko Osawa, Head of the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific (third left); Mr Mark Woo, Deputy Commissioner (Control and Enforcement) of Customs and Excise (first right); Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU (second left); Mr Barry Lai, Assistant Commissioner (Intelligence and Investigation) (first left) attended the event. (Photo credit: HKSAR Government Press Release)