Hong Kong Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said Friday that "in the coming three and a half years, our bureau will continue to implement various initiatives, including enhancing the capacity of combating terrorism and transnational organized crimes."

Lee made the remarks when he briefed the Legislative Council Panel on Security on the Chief Executive's Policy Address for 2004.

He said his bureau would continue to co-ordinate the work of the disciplined forces with a view to upholding Hong Kong's position as one of the safest cities in the world, maintaining its crime rate at a low level and providing efficient services to the community.

During the meeting, he elaborated on the major work of the Security Bureau in the next three and a half years, including new and ongoing initiatives.

On new initiatives, Lee pointed out that the Security Bureau would further study international standards and the latest technologies to enhance security of immigration control.

"If the international standards and technologies concerned are practicable, both technically and in other aspects, they will enhance our immigration control and also boost the confidence of other countries in the anti-forgery features of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports, thereby encouraging the continued granting of visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders," he said.

On anti-money laundering, Lee said the Security Bureau would study carefully the revised set of Forty Recommendations issued by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FAFT) in June2003 to make Hong Kong's financial system more consistent with the latest international standards in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

Lee said his bureau was formulating legislative proposals to implement the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. It would also continue discussions with other regions and countries to enhance co-operation with other jurisdictions in criminal matters relating to Mutual Legal Assistance, Surrender of Fugitive Offenders and Transfer of Sentenced Persons.

In addition, Lee said the Security Bureau would continue to work on the implementation of Article 23 of the Basic Law.

In view of the continuing increase in the flow of people and goods across the boundary,  Lee said the Security Bureau would take the necessary action to tie in with the construction of major cross-boundary infrastructure projects, including the establishment of a new boundary control point on the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2004)