The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)

General Information

The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was established in 1985 by the U.S. Department of State to foster the exchange of security related information between the U.S. Government and the U.S. private sector operating abroad. Administered by the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture for effective security cooperation. Through OSAC, the American private sector, including colleges and universities, receives timely information on which to make informed corporate decisions on how best to protect their investments, facilities, personnel and intellectual property abroad.

Professional security officers of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service lead the OSAC program overseas. During meetings of overseas OSAC Councils, member share information on local and regional security issues.

Our Hong Kong OSAC objectives are:

• To establish continuing liaison and to provide for operational security cooperation between the State Department and the U.S. private sector;
• To provide for the regular and timely exchange of information between the U.S. private sector and the State Department concerning developments in protective security;
• To recommend methods and provide material for coordinating security planning and implementing of security programs;
• To recommend methods to protect the competitiveness of American businesses operating worldwide.

For the U.S. Consulate, Hong Kong Regional Security Officer Peter Carlson, Assistant Regional Security Officer Timothy Dalton and Office Manager Liberty Bell-Palm direct an active OSAC program with the private sector. Below are some recent OSAC events:

• April 13, 2012 - The Hong Kong/Macau OSAC group met at the US Consulate General. Two attorney's from Rouse & Company spoke about Intellectual Property Rights cases in Hong Kong and mainland China followed by representatives from Hong Kong Customs who discussed their perspective on this issue. The membership then went to the US Marine bar for a reception.
• February 10, 2012 - The new OSAC Steering Committee met and elected Andy Ho of IBM as the new Chairman, Daniel Chui of British-American Tobacco as Vice-Chairman, and Mark Hayman of ARUP as Secretary.
• January 13, 2012 - The Hong Kong/Macau OSAC group met at the Police Officer's Club. Michael Gazeley of Network Box, a Hong Kong based computer security firm gave a presentation on cyber security. Following the regular meeting, the membership elected a 7-person Steering Committee for 2012. We then retired to the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club for drinks and dinner. 
• October 6, 2011 - The Hong Kong/Macau OSAC group had its Second Annual trip to Disneyland Hong Kong. After a presentation on Transportation Security from Transport and Asset Protection Association (TAPA) at the Disneyland Command Center, guests sat down for a dim sum lunch and then toured Disney's famous haunted houses..
  
  

  OSAC group at Disneyland Hong Kong

  
  
• September 2, 2011 - The Hong Kong/Macau OSAC group met at the US Consulate General.  This meeting included a roundtable discussion of Multiple Cyber Attacks Against a Single Target presented by the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team.
• June 16, 2011 - A joint OSAC / ASIS (American Society for Industrial Security) meeting at the Sands Hotel in Macau had several speakers on the subject of Information Security: Practical Approaches for Managing Security Risks to Proprietary Information and Personal Data.
• April 29, 2011 - The quarterly meeting included a roundtable discussion of Crisis Preparedness Lessons learned from Japan, guided by the Asia Crisis and Security Group (ACSG) and International SOS.  Afterward, members were invited to happy hour at the U.S. Marine Corps Bar.
• February 8, 2011 - The new OSAC Steering Committee met and elected Joseph Yip of Hong Kong Disney as the new Chairman, Andy Ho of IBM as Vice-Chairman, and Richard Powell of Intel as Secretary.
• January 19, 2011 - The Hong Kong/Macau OSAC group met at the US Consulate General. John Shanahan of Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption talked about the commission's role in combating corruption. Internal Revenue Service Special Agent Edward Ng presented an overview of the IRS mission overseas.  The membership elected an 8-person Steering Committee for 2011.
• November 16, 2010 - A joint OSAC/ASIS meeting at the Hong Kong Football Club drew nearly 100 attendees to listen to four speakers talk about site selection and risk management. It was followed by a networking/happy hour.
• October 7, 2010 - Mr. Joseph Yip and his team at Disneyland Hong Kong hosted a successful meeting at Disney. After a presentation on Hong Kong's Crime Reduction Squad, participants took a tour of the Disneyland Command Center, sat down for a dim sum lunch, and then toured Disney's famous haunted houses.
  
  

  Mr. Joseph Yip and OSAC members at Disneyland Hong Kong

  
  
• June 24, 2010 - A joint OSAC / ASIS (American Society for Industrial Security) meeting at the Sands Hotel in Macau covered subjects including travel risk outlook for the coming year, hotel security, and corporate travel security.
• April 30, 2010 - The quarterly meeting included Paul Jackson, Chief Inspector with the Hong Kong Police Technical Crime Division talking about Current and Future Trends in Cybercrime, and Barry Wong, General Manager of First Advantage on Background Screening.  Afterward, members were invited to happy hour at the U.S. Marine Corps Bar.
• February 5, 2010 - The new OSAC Steering Committee met and elected Frankie Lai of AIA as the new Chairman, Joseph Yip of Hong Kong Disney as Vice-Chairman, and Andy Ho of IBM as the Secretary.
• January 22, 2010 - The Hong Kong/Macau OSAC group met at the US Consulate General. Senior Inspector of Police David Jordan talked about the new Hong Kong Police Counter Terrorism Response Unit and Frankie Liu, Regional Director, East-Asia Executive Analysis Ltd., spoke about doing business in China. The membership elected an 8-person Steering Committee for 2010.
• November 19, 2009 - The U.S. Consulate hosted the last OSAC meeting of the year. Dorothy Chan, Business Continuity Manager of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, spoke about business continuity and how to adapt it to different corporate styles. John Johnson of the U.S. Secret Service spoke about counterfeit SuperNotes.
• March 23, 2009 - The South China OSAC Conference gathered participants from all over the region to the Aberdeen Yacht Club, including participants from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia, for an intensive one-day program. Speakers from the U.S. Government and from a wide range of private business discussed security from many angles, from economic and crime trends in the area, to forensic data, to trade secret protection and safe business travel. After the meetings, attendees participated in a reception.