Speeches and Articles by Former Consul General Michael Klosson

Remarks by U.S. Consul General Michael Klosson
Law Enforcement Cooperation Reception
at Consul General's Residence

September 28, 1999

(As Prepared for Delivery)

When people talk about relations between the United States and Hong Kong, they often focus solely on trade and investment. If they stop there, they miss a vitally important part of the relationship - namely, our longstanding cooperation in law enforcement matters. Virtually every day, Hong Kong and U.S. law enforcement officers work together, as those present know better than me. I wish to salute that cooperation this evening.

Hong Kong's streets are generally safe. The Hong Kong government has expressed determination to combat organized crime, piracy, smuggling, counterfeiting, drug-dealing and other kinds of criminal activity. ICAC has just celebrated its 25th anniversary as one of the world's most successful anti-corruption programs. At the same time, Hong Kong provides a supportive environment where its residents enjoy human rights and freedoms. In short, Hong Kong remains a model for balancing fundamental rights and freedoms with effective law enforcement.

During my initial round of briefings and meetings since arriving in Hong Kong, I have been flooded with examples of good U.S.-Hong Kong law enforcement cooperation. Let me just name a few:

Hong Kong police, immigration and prison officials have consistently excelled in informing us quickly of American citizen arrests. They treat American prisoners with a professional and correct attitude, and generally recognize and facilitate our consular role in arrest cases as well as in cases of deaths of American citizens.

We value highly our partnership with Hong Kong in combating intellectual property rights violations and in controlling the export of sensitive technologies. Hong Kong Customs, together with the Police, has taken the lead in fighting IPR rights piracy. We look forward to sustained enforcement and new legislation being introduced next month to give the authorities even stronger tools to address this threat to Hong Kong's information technology future and the interests of both U.S. copyright holders and of Hong Kong entrepreneurs. U.S.-Hong Kong cooperation on export control issues is also effective; as a result, telecommunications and computer systems rank among the top categories of our $23.4 billion trading relationship.

The Hong Kong Justice Department's Mutual Legal Assistance Unit has displayed similar energy and efficiency in working with us on extradition and provisional arrest request cases. The speed with which the Hong Kong police have responded to our requests has been impressive -- in one case, a U.S. fugitive was arrested the day following our request.

U.S. and Hong Kong officials have consulted extensively on combating money laundering. We welcome Hong Kong's efforts to strengthen money laundering laws, including recently proposed legislation requiring money changers and remittance centers to maintain records for transactions over HKD 20,000. Once adopted and implemented, the law should discourage money-launderers from using these channels. Cooperative investigative efforts have lead to the successful conviction of several U.S.-based criminals involved in luxury car smuggling and related money laundering and insurance fraud. We appreciate the extraordinary anti-narcotics efforts by Hong Kong Police and Customs officials. We also applaud Hong Kong's proposed legislation that will allow for better control over the cocaine chemical precursor, potassium permanganate.

I am sure each of you this evening can add to this list your own experience in these and other areas, such as textile transshipments, alien smuggling and child pornography.

So, let me take the opportunity this evening to salute all those involved in our joint work to combat crime and to thank our Hong Kong colleagues who have performed so well in their civic duties.

Let me also express our appreciation to Hong Kong law enforcement officers for keeping this city safe for the 50,000 American citizens who reside or visit here, including for us, the staff and families of the U.S. Consulate General.

Please join me in a toast to you-our Hong Kong colleagues and friends-and your tireless efforts to make this world a safer and better place.

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