Anti-money Laundering Month 2021

To enhance public awareness of anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism, the Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau rolled out a one-month programme, the "Project AccFencers - AML Month”, on 21 November. The title "Acc” stands for "Account” and "Fencers” implies attack and defence in a fencing game. The project rallies the efforts of all sectors and the public to combat money laundering and safeguard Hong Kong’s status as one of the safest and healthiest international financial centres in the world.

The Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, together with the Police Public Relations Branch and the Regional Crime Prevention Offices, is carrying out a wide range of publicity activities regarding anti-money laundering, such as slogan design competition, seminars and workshops, for various industries including financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions, schools and the public. It is hoped that by providing useful information on anti-money laundering through the series of publicity works, public understanding and awareness of the subject matter can be raised. With the concerted effort of all sectors, we can fight against such crime on all fronts!

Anti-Money Laundering Event Calendar

We are looking to the whole community to jointly combat money laundering by means of establishing a platform for professional sectors, students and members of the public to learn about the current crime trends and modus operandi.

"Project AccFencers" AML Month Kick-off cum Slogan Design Competition Presentation Ceremony

The launching ceremony of “Project AccFencers” was held at the Hong Kong Police Headquarters on 24 November 2021. The Commissioner of Police, Mr SIU Chak-yee, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Ms CHAN Wing-shiu and Principal Assistant Secretary (Narcotics)1, Mr LAI Ming-fai, officiated at the ceremony and around 200 representatives of the industry were invited. The final champion, first runner-up and second-runner up winners of the Slogan Design Competition were also voted by 200 guests among the five shortlisted slogans at the ceremony. Please click here for more details of the event!

Anti-Money Laundering Promotion Clip

A brand new AML promotion clip has been launched on the Hong Kong Police Facebook page! Enjoy!

Press Release and Operation Updates

Check out the latest press release conference and operation stand-up briefing!

Photo Gallery

Check out our website for AML Month activities this year!

Anti-Money Laundering Classroom

Learn more about the latest AML trend!

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Anti-Money Laundering Event Calendar

We are looking to the whole community to jointly combat money laundering by means of establishing a platform for professional sectors, students and members of the public to learn about the current crime trends and modus operandi.

From 21 November to 18 December 2021, alongside with seminars and workshops, we have arranged an "AccFencers” promotion truck to travel around the city to disseminate the message of anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism and to enhance public legal awareness of money laundering. We are also stopping by various hotspots in town to promote and give away souvenir! Other publicity activities for the pubic and the industry include:

Engaging Community

• "AccFencers” publicity truck and souvenir distribution
• Facebook live with the consular representative of Indonesia
• Anti-money laundering seminars (schools and non-profit-making organisations in the five Police Regions)

Stakeholder Engagement

• "Project AccFencers” AML Month Kick-off cum Presentation Ceremony
• HKMA, HKAB and HKPF Tripartite Meeting
• Central Coordinating Committee on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism meetings
• Financial Action Task Force webinars
• Anti-money laundering seminars (money lenders, securities firms and accounting firms)

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The launching ceremony of “Project AccFencers” was held at the Hong Kong Police Headquarters on 24 November 2021. The Commissioner of Police, Mr SIU Chak-yee, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Ms CHAN Wing-shiu and Principal Assistant Secretary (Narcotics), Mr LAI Ming-fai, officiated at the ceremony and around 200 representatives of the industry were invited. The final champion, first runner-up and second-runner up winners of the Slogan Design Competition were also voted by 200 guests among the five shortlisted slogans at the ceremony.

Awards Winners:

Champion:
American Express International (HK), Inc
Tainted money keeps circling around. Report to keep Hong Kong safe and sound

1st Runner up:
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited
Detect attempts at money laundering. Fighting financial crime, together

2nd Runner up:
Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited
Combat Against Money Laundering. Fight Against Terrorist Financing

Merit:
Mox Bank Limited
China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited

Most Enthusiastic Participating Award:
AlipayHK

We would like to thank again for the active participation of the public in fighting money laundering crime!
Last but not least, never lend your account to anyone!

 

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Anti-Money Laundering Promotion Clip

【 財富情報及調查科 · 反洗黑錢月宣傳片強勢登場 】

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Press Release and Operation Updates

Operation Stand-up Briefing

2021-11-23
Operation FLYDUST - 14 persons arrested for laundering crime proceeds of HKD 380 million

Acting upon intelligence, the Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau unveiled a money laundering syndicate involving in various local and overseas deception cases. The syndicate recruited stooges to set up personal and corporate bank accounts for receiving fraudulent crime proceeds overseas or within the territory amounting to HKD 25 million. Following an extensive investigation, an arrest operation named Operation Flydust was turned overt on 22nd and 23rd November 2021 and 14 persons were arrested for the offence of "Conspiracy to Money Laundering". The offenders were suspected of laundering crime proceeds amounting to over $380 million using over 60 local bank accounts between April 2020 and October 2021. During the operation, the syndicate's operation centre was successfully raided with HKD 370,000 in cash, over 50 bank cards and loads of bank documents seized, The operation also prevented the dissipation of over HKD 20 million of crime proceeds.

Click into the video to learn more about the case.

2021-12-02
Operation SILVERAXE - 14 persons arrested for laundering crime proceeds of HKD 300 million

Acting upon intelligence, the Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau unveiled a money laundering syndicate with triad background involving in various local and overseas deception cases. The syndicate recruited stooges to set up personal and corporate bank accounts for receiving fraudulent crime proceeds overseas or within the territory amounting to HKD 21 million. Following an extensive investigation, an arrest operation named Operation Silveraxe was turned overt on 1st December 2021, and 14 persons were arrested for the offence of "Conspiracy to Money Laundering". The offenders were suspected of laundering crime proceeds amounting to over $300 million using over 60 local bank accounts between January 2020 and November 2021. The operation prevented the dissipation of over HKD 70 million of crime proceeds.

Click into the video to learn more about the case.

2021-12-09
Offbeat On Air

On 2021-12-09, Senior Inspector YEUNG Chin-wing and Senior Inspector WONG Po-ling of Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau were invited to Offbeat On Air to present the idea and details of the "Project AccFencers - AML Month” .

【#Project AccFencer#AML Month#FIIB】

2021-12-16
Cross-border Joint Operation WOLFSEEKER - 9 members of 'Ramp and Dump' syndicate arrested

Following an extensive investigation, on 2021-12-15, the Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong, Monetary Authority of Singapore, and Singapore Police Force mounted a joint arrest operation named Operation Wolfseeker targeting a cross-border market manipulation and money laundering syndicate and nine persons were arrested, including one syndicate core member, six senior management officials of three involved listed companies and two stooge account holders. The operation prevented the dissipation of over HKD 48 million of crime proceeds and large amount of cash and valuables amounting to over HKD 2 million were seized.

Click into the video to learn more about the case.

2021-12-16
AML Month - Operation WISEWORD Summary

Following the Anti-Money Laundering Month, between 2021-11-21 and 2021-12-16, HKPF mounted a large scale arrest operation named Operation Wiseword, during which over 1,000 police officers searched over 200 premises in Hong Kong and arrested 172 persons for money laundering. The offenders utilised over 570 bank, securities and SVF accounts to launder suspected crime proceeds of over HKD 1.34 billion, including fraudulent proceeds from predicate crimes amounting to HKD 762 million. The operation prevented the dissipation of over HKD168 million of crime proceeds, and seized loads of bank documents, bank cards, mobile phones and computers.

Click into the video to learn more about the operation.

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Photo Gallery

1. Officers of Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau distributed leaflets and souvenirs

To enhance the public awareness of anti-money laundering, officers of Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau arranged an "AccFencers” promotion truck to travel around the city during this AML month, distributed leaflets and souvenirs to the public with the officers of Regional Crime Prevention Offices, and answered public enquiries on legal issue relating to money laundering.

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  4 December (SAT) Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok
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  4 December (SAT) Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok

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  3 December (FRI) Tai Po and Tuen Mun
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  3 December (FRI) Tai Po and Tuen Mun

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  2 December (THU) Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai
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  2 December (THU) Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai

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  1 December (WED) Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan
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  1 December (WED) Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan

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  30 November (TUE) Tai Wai
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  30 November (TUE) Tai Wai

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  29 November (MON) Cheung Sha Wan and Nam Tin
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  28 November (SUN) Ngau Tau Kok and San Po Kong

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  21 November (SUN) Central
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  21 November (SUN) Central

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2. FIIB promotes AML messages to foreign domestic helpers

In view of the increased money laundering risks that foreign workers may be exposed to, Senior Superintendent of FIIB, Ms. CHENG Lai-ki Kelly led the officers of FIIB to meet representatives of the Philippine Consulate-General and the Indonesian Consulate-General on 4th and 5th August respectively.

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  Senior Superintendent of FIIB, Ms. CHENG Lai-ki Kelly (third from left) exchanged souvenirs with representatives of the Indonesian Consulate-General.
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  FIIB officers and representatives of the Indonesian Consulate-General discussed anti-money laundering strategies.
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  FIIB officers and representatives of the Philippine Consulate-General discussed anti-money laundering strategies.

The Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (FIIB) conducted Operation MORNINGRAY in late July 2021 and neutralized a money laundering syndicate which laundered over HKD 27 Million of crime proceeds. The two dozens of domestic helpers among the 29 arrestees were believed to have sold or lent their bank accounts to the masterminds for money laundering purpose.

In view of the increased money laundering risks that foreign workers may be exposed to, Senior Superintendent of FIIB, Ms. CHENG Lai-ki Kelly led the officers of FIIB to meet representatives of the Philippine Consulate-General and the Indonesian Consulate-General on 4th and 5th August respectively.

During the meetings, FIIB officers and consulate representatives exchanged observations on money laundering cases and the related crime trend. Anti-money laundering promotional leaflets in Indonesian and Tagalog were also presented to representatives of the Consulates-General for their future publicity campaigns.

FIIB will continue to liaise with different anti-money laundering stakeholders regarding combatting money laundering crimes with the aim of strengthening the public’s anti-money laundering and countering-terrorist financing awareness.

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3. Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau attended the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary Meetings

Delegation from the Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (FIIB), led by Chief Superintendent Ms. LAM Man-han, attended the Plenary meetings and working group meetings of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) from June 14 to June 25 via video conferencing.

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  Chief Superintendent of Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, Ms. LAM Man-han (third from right) and officers attended Plenary meetings of the Financial Action Task Force.
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  Officer of Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau presented opinions in virtual Plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force.

Being one of the members of FATF, an intergovernmental organization which sets international AML/CFT standards, Hong Kong delegation participated in the discussions of key issues in strengthening global action against money laundering and terrorism with delegates representing 205 jurisdictions and international organisations from all over the world.

One of the finalised reports addressed the strategies for overcoming the challenges jurisdictions come across in asset recovery. The proactive stop-payment mechanism of the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC) was internationally recognized and mentioned as a good example of immediate and pre-emptive freeze to prevent dissipation of crime proceeds. In response to the increased use of virtual assets, delegates also concentrated their discussions on the exploitation of virtual assets in laundering proceeds of crime and financing illicit activities. The FATF also explored challenges and opportunities of technological innovation to make anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing efforts more effective.

The Plenary also discussed Japan and South Africa’s measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, and provided recommended actions for the two jurisdictions to enhance their anti-money laundering frameworks.