China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference Focuses on Combatting Money Laundering and Corruption in Technological Age.

2025-09-23 17:19 Last Updated At：19:33

15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference held in Hong Kong (with photos/video)

The 15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference, hosted by the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People’s Republic of China and organised by the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), was held in Hong Kong today (September 23). The Conference was attended by around 80 participants including prosecutors general, attorneys general, and representatives from prosecution authorities from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states.

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15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference held in Hong Kong (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference held in Hong Kong (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Initiated by the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China in 2004, the China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference is a regular multilateral platform for high-level exchanges between prosecution authorities of China and ASEAN member states on issues of common interest, with a view to enhancing capacities in combatting transnational crimes, protecting people's livelihoods and maintaining regional stability. The Conference is part of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN.

The year's Conference theme, "Combatting Money Laundering and Corruption, and Recovering Assets in the Technological Age", highlights the transnational nature, fluidity and complexity of crimes relating to money laundering and corruption in the technological age and the challenges posed by technological advancements to effective law enforcement and prosecutions against money laundering and corruption, and calls for unity as China and ASEAN member states join hands to rise to such challenges in the digital era.

The Chief Grand Prosecutor and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China, Mr Ying Yong; the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mr John Lee; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, officiated and delivered their welcoming speeches at the opening ceremony.

In his speech at the ceremony, Mr Ying said that with the robust development of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, the strategic mutual trust between the two sides has continued to strengthen. The China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference is an important conference under the China-ASEAN framework, and plays a vital role in promoting peace, security, prosperity, and sustainable development between China and ASEAN member states. The theme of this conference reflects the shared understanding among participants regarding the harms of money laundering, corruption, and cross-border transfer of illicit funds. It also embodies the common aspiration of prosecutorial authorities across jurisdictions to strengthen international anti-money laundering and anti-corruption co-operation, and to deepen collaboration in recovering criminal assets for better safeguarding regional security and stability while promoting common development.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lee thanked the Central Government for organising and supporting Hong Kong in hosting the conference. He said that China and ASEAN are good neighbours, good friends and good partners with a long history of co-operation. As the only bilingual common law jurisdiction under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong has full capability to uphold the rule of law and act as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution in the Asia-Pacific region. He said that countries should work together in the technological age to make use of innovative technology to combat the so-called innovators of crime, and build a future where technology serves safety. This conference is a good opportunity to strengthen co-operation between China and ASEAN countries in combatting cross-border criminal activities.

Mr Lam said in his speech that the HKSAR, under the "one country, two systems" principle, has close legal co-operation with ASEAN member states, including the signing of bilateral mutual legal assistance agreements, taking forward co-operation based on reciprocity undertakings and implementing key international conventions relating to combatting transnational crime. Hong Kong will continue to strengthen its collaboration with ASEAN member states in combatting transnational crime in response to the new developments in the region's economic and social landscape.

Following the opening ceremony, representatives from China and ASEAN member states proceeded to the plenary sessions. Addressing the plenary session of the Conference, Mr Lam proposed a multipronged approach to combatting money laundering and corruption in a technological age, including the strengthening of public education and imposing heavier penalties to deter members of the general public from laundering money for others; strict enforcement of legal duties to require financial institutions to detect and report suspicious transactions; using legal means to stop dissipation of funds in money laundering; and enhancing the prosecution's capability to handle technological crimes. Mr Lam briefed the participants on the latest legislative initiatives taken to improve Hong Kong’s legal frameworks in combatting money laundering and corruption related offences, as well as Hong Kong's active role in deepening collaboration with ASEAN member states in this respect.

During the conference, the Heads of Delegations of China and ASEAN member states will sign the Joint Declaration of the 15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference, declaring and reaffirming the commitment of China and ASEAN member states to fight against transnational crimes, including money laundering and corruption; to strengthen co-operation and sharing of knowledge and best practices; to enhance anti-money laundering and anti-corruption regulatory frameworks and legal tools, and step up promotional works to enhance public understanding and awareness of money laundering and corruption.

During the conference held in Hong Kong, Mr Lam, as a member of the Delegation of China, attended bilateral meetings between the delegation and ASEAN member states to exchange views of common interest.

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference Focuses on Combatting Money Laundering and Corruption in Technological Age.

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