crime · Thestandard

Interpol to advance asset tracing at Hong Kong assembly

Thestandard · 1 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN

Summary

Interpol says its 94th General Assembly in Hong Kong will be used to push stronger cross-border cooperation on tracing and seizing criminal assets, with a new capability due to be discussed there . The meeting is scheduled for November 30 to December 3 in Hong Kong and is expected to bring together more than 2,000 representatives from the organisation’s 196 member countries . Secretary-General Valdecy Urquiza said Hong Kong’s role in finance, trade and digital services made it a suitable venue, while Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming said the city had been preparing since early 2025 . Among the proposals in focus is Interpol’s Silver Notice initiative, which aims to help police investigate and trace assets hidden by criminal groups across jurisdictions .

Key Points

Interpol Secretary-General Valdecy Urquiza said the organisation wants deeper international cooperation on tracing and seizing criminal assets at the Hong Kong assembly .
The 94th General Assembly will run from November 30 to December 3 in Hong Kong, with over 2,000 representatives from 196 member countries .
Urquiza called Hong Kong a hub for finance, trade and digital services, and said it was an ideal place to convene global law enforcement .
He also described Hong Kong as an active partner, saying seconded Hong Kong police officers had contributed expertise, especially in financial crime investigations .
Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming said planning began in early 2025 under a three-tier structure led by the Chief Secretary, Security Secretary and police .

Why It Matters

For Hong Kong, the assembly is both a security operation and a test of its ability to host a major international law enforcement gathering while projecting itself as a trusted centre for finance-related policing cooperation . The focus on asset tracing and fraud-related investigations also aligns closely with risks faced by a city that handles large cross-border financial and digital flows .