Title: Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
1Prevention of Money Launderingand Terrorist
Financing
2Outline of our Legal Seminar
- What is Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
- The Legislation on money laundering in Hong Kong
- Basic policies to combat money laundering and
terrorist financing - The general trend and development in anti-money
laundering in other jurisdictions - (Break Time)
- Guidelines for banking practice
- Practices in other trades and industries
- Case studies
- Summary Conclusion
- Questions and Answers Session
3What is Money Laundering?
- Money Laundering covers all procedures which
change the identity of illegally obtained money
so that it appears to have originated from a
legitimate source.
43 Stages of Money Laundering
- Placement ( ?? ) physical disposal of dirty
cash - Layering ( ?? ) series of transfers of funds to
disguise the origin - Integration ( ?? ) use layered funds to
purchase clean legitimate assets
5What is Terrorist Financing?
- Terrorist Financing refers to the carrying out
of transactions involving funds or property that
are owned or controlled by terrorists or
transactions that are linked to terrorist
activities
6The legislation on Money Laundering and Terrorist
Financing in Hong Kong
- Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405) - ?405???(????)??
- Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO)
(Cap. 455) - ?455???????????
- United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures)
Ordinance (UNATMO) (Cap. 575) - ?575? ???(???????)??
- United Nations Sanctions (Afghanistan) Regulation
under the United Nations Sanctions Ordinance
(UNSO) (Cap. 537) - ?537? ???????
7Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- Provisions for investigating suspected assets,
freezing assets on arrest and confiscation of
proceeds from drug trafficking
8Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- S.25 specifies a criminal offence if a person
commits an offence if he deals with property
knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe
it represents a persons proceeds of drug
trafficking - Dealing includes
- receiving or acquiring the property
- concealing or disguising the property
- disposing of or converting the property
- bringing the property into or removing it from HK
- using the property to borrow money, or as
security
9Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- ??(dealing),?????????25?????????,?? -
- (a) ????????
- (b) ????????
- (c) ????????
- (d) ?????????????
- (e) ??????,????
10Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- Max penalty
- on conviction upon indictment - HK5,000,000 fine
and imprisonment for 14 years - On summary conviction HK500,000 fine and
imprisonment for 3 years
11Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- In practice, it is likely to cover situations
where one enters into/is otherwise concerned in
an arrangement to facilitate the movement of the
proceeds of drug trafficking/the obtaining of
credit secured on those proceeds/assisting in the
investment of those proceeds on behalf of that
client
12Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- S.25A(1)
- imposes an obligation on a person who
knows/suspects that any property represents
proceeds from drug trafficking to disclose such
knowledge/ suspicion to an authorized officer (
???? ). - Max penalty
- HK50,000 fine and imprisonment for
- 3 months
13Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- An authorized officer includes any police
officer, any member of the Customs Excise
Department ( ?? ). and Joint Financial
Intelligence Unit (JFIU) ( ??????? ) - The JFIU has been established by and is operated
by the Police and Customs Excise Department. It
functions as the local and international advisor
on money laundering matters generally.
14Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- JFIU contact details
- Joint Financial Intelligence Unit ( ??????? )
- 16/F, Arsenal House West Wing,
- Hong Kong Police Headquarters,
- Arsenal Street, Hong Kong
- or
- GPO Box 6555
- Hong Kong Post Office, Hong Kong
- Telephone (852) 2866 3366 or (852) 2860 3404
- Fax (852) 2529 4013
- Email jfiu_at_police.gov.hk
15Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- S.25A(2) provides that if a person who has made
the necessary disclosure under S.25A(1) does any
act in contravention of S.25(1) and the
disclosure relates to that act he does not commit
an offence if - the disclosure is made before he does that act
and the act is done with the consent of an
authorized officer or - the disclosure is made after the person does the
act and the disclosure is made on the persons
own initiative and as soon as it is reasonable
for him to make it
16Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- S.25(A)(3)
- Disclosure made under the Ordinance shall not be
treated as a breach of any confidentiality
obligations imposed by contract etc.
Accordingly, no liability for damages will attach
upon such disclosure
17Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- S.25A(4)
- Disclosure can be made by person in employment to
appropriate person in accordance with procedures
made by employer. Such disclosure is equivalent
to disclosure to an authorized officer
18Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- S.25(A)(5)
- Person who knows or suspects that a disclosure
has been made under S.25A(1) must not disclose to
any other person any matter likely to prejudice
any investigation. Otherwise, he commits an
offence - Max penalty
- on conviction upon indictment HK500,000 fine and
imprisonment for 3 years. - On summary conviction HK100,000 fine and
imprisonment for 1 year
19Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance
(DTROP) (Cap. 405)?405???(????)??
- S.26
- No witness in any civil or criminal proceedings
shall be obliged to reveal the identity of the
person making the disclosure except in
proceedings for an offence under section 25, 25A
and 26 of the DTROP, or where court takes the
view that justice cannot be fully served without
revealing the identity of the person making the
disclosure
20Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO)
(Cap. 455)?455???????????
- S.25
- Extends the money laundering offence to cover the
proceeds of all indictable offences in addition
to drug trafficking - Examples of indictable offences ( ????? ) include
any crime or offence for which a magistrate is
authorized or empowered or required to commit the
accused person to prison for trial before the
court e.g. theft, robbery, kidnapping
21Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO)
(Cap. 455)?455???????????
- S.3 to S.5
- An authorized officer may apply to court for
order requiring information material to be
produced/ search warrant to be granted
22Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO)
(Cap. 455)?455???????????
- S.25, S.25A and S.26
- modelled upon S.25, S.25A and S.26 of DTROP
- Reference to drug trafficking becomes reference
to indictable offences - Same penalties apply as in DTROP
23United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures)
Ordinance (UNATMO) (Cap. 575)?575?
???(???????)??
- UNATMO is directed towards all terrorists.
- UNATMO criminalizes the supply of funds and
making funds or financial (or related) services
available to terrorists or terrorist associates,
permit terrorist property to be frozen and
subsequently forfeited
24United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures)
Ordinance (UNATMO) (Cap. 575)?575?
???(???????)??
- Terrorist means a person who commits, or
attempts to commit, a terrorist act or who
participates in or facilitates the commission of
a terrorist act - Terrorist associate means an entity owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by a
terrorist
25United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures)
Ordinance (UNATMO) (Cap. 575)?575?
???(???????)??
- Terrorist act is defined as the use or threat
of action that would have the effect of - causing serious violence against a person
- causing serious damage to property
- endangering a persons life
- creating a serious risk to the health or safety
of the public or a section of the public - seriously interfering with or seriously
disrupting an electronic system or - seriously interfering with or seriously
disrupting an essential service, facility or
system, whether public or private - and
26United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures)
Ordinance (UNATMO) (Cap. 575)?575?
???(???????)??
- the use or threat is
- intended to compel the Government or to
intimidate the public or a section of the public
and - made for the purpose of advancing a political,
religious or ideological cause
27United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures)
Ordinance (UNATMO) (Cap. 575)?575?
???(???????)??
- ?????? ?
- (A) ??????????
- (B) ??????????
- (C) ????????????????
- (D) ????????????????????
- ????
- (E) ???????????????
- (F) ???????????????????
28United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures)
Ordinance (UNATMO) (Cap. 575)?575?
???(???????)??
- A list of terrorists or terrorist associates
is published in the Gazette from time to time
pursuant to S.10 of the United Nations Sanctions
(Afghanistan) Regulation and S.4 of the UNATMO
29United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures)
Ordinance (UNATMO) (Cap. 575)?575?
???(???????)??
- S.12(1) requires a person to report his knowledge
or suspicion of terrorist property to an
authorized officer who includes a police officer,
a member of CE, Immigration and ICAC - Failure to disclose will constitute an offence
and attracts a fine of HK50,000 max. and
3-months imprisonment - Similar to DTROP and OSCO, disclosure pursuant to
the UNATMO shall not be regarded as breach of
confidentiality obligations imposed by contract
etc.
30United Nations Sanctions (Afghanistan) Regulation
under the United Nations Sanctions Ordinance
(UNSO) (Cap. 537)?537? ???????
- UNSO provides for a prohibition on making funds
available to designated terrorists
31Basic policies to combat money laundering and
terrorist financing
- All relevant institutions should
- issue a statement of policies and procedures for
dealing with money laundering and terrorist
financing reflecting the current statutory and
regulatory requirements - regularly review the policies and procedures on
prevention of money laundering and terrorist
financing to ensure their effectiveness - adopt customer acceptance policies and procedures
which are sensitive to the risk of money
laundering and terrorist financing
32Basic policies to combat money laundering and
terrorist financing
- conduct customer due diligence (CDD) depending
on different types of customers, business
relationships or transactions - ensure that the content of relevant industry
Guidance Note is understood by all employees - promote employees awareness and vigilance to
guard against money laundering and terrorist
financing
33Basic policies to combat money laundering and
terrorist financing
- Policies should cover the following aspects
- Communication of group policies on anti-money
laundering and terrorist financing - Account opening and customer identification
- Maintenance of records
- Compliance with relevant legislation
- Co-operation with relevant law enforcement
authorities, including timely disclosure of
information - Internal audit to ensure compliance with
policies, procedures, and controls on anti-money
laundering
34Systemic Approach to Identifying Suspicious
Transactions recommended by JFIU
- Step one Recognition of a suspicious financial
activity indicator or indicators - Step two Appropriate questioning of the customer
- Step three Review of information already known
about the customer in deciding if the apparently
suspicious activity is to be expected from the
customer - Step four Consideration of Steps 1-3 above to
make a subjective decision on whether the
customers financial activity is genuinely
suspicious or not
35Points to note on CDD
- Client identification
- Take all necessary steps to establish true
identity of client - Individual/origin/background/profile
- Corporations
- identification of directors/searches/credit
reference /identification of shareholders - beware of companies with nominee shareholders and
bearer shares/ownership structures/place of
incorporation/nature of business and activities - Determine risk profile of customers - PEPs,
casinos, NCCTs (details of which can be found on
FATF website)
36Points to note on CDD
- Client identification - to continue
- Examples of low risk customers include
- financial institutions authorized and supervised
by the HKMA, the Securities and Futures
Commission and the Office of the Commissioner of
Insurance - public companies subject to regulatory disclosure
requirements - Trust accounts/Nominee accounts/Client accounts
- Reliance on intermediaries for CDD
- Periodic reviews of existing information
37Points to note on CDD
- Additional CDD measures
- obtain self-declarations and comprehensive
profile - information re source of funds
- anticipated account activity etc.
38Record Keeping
- Keep records to enable a sufficient audit trail
to be followed - Keep records for at least such periods prescribed
by the relevant industry regulators i.e. HKMA and
other relevant legislation - For each account
- beneficial owner
- volume, origin and destination of funds flowing
through the account - person giving instructions
39Record Keeping
- For selected transactions
- origin of the funds
- form in which funds were transferred
- person giving instructions
- destination of funds
40Procedures for disclosures
- Coordinate through a central point, say, senior
compliance officer - Keep register of reports made to compliance
department and to JFIU
41Education and Training
- Put programmes in place for training staff on an
ongoing basis
42The General trend and development in anti-money
laundering and terrorist financing
- The position in other jurisdictions
- 1988 - UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance - 1989 - Establishment of FATF 33 members, 31
countries governments and 20 observers - Forty
Recommendations drawn up in 1990 - 1996 - Recommendations were revised (1st Revised)
FATF endorsed by 130 countries
43The General trend and development in anti-money
laundering and terrorist financing
- 1997 - DTROP S.25, UNSO
- 8.9.97 Law Society - Money Laundering Guidance
Notes for Solicitors - cir 97-280(SD) DTROP and
OSCO - 2000 - OSCO
- HKMA Guideline on Prevention of Money Laundering
44The General trend and development in anti-money
laundering and terrorist financing
- 2001
- September - 9.11 Event
- October - expanding FATF mandate to terrorist
financing - 2002 UNATMO, DTROP Cap 405 (1.1. 2003)
45The General trend and development in anti-money
laundering and terrorist financing
- 2003
- Financial Action Task Force (Revised) FATF Forty
Recommendations extending the effects to lawyers
Recognized by International Monetary Forum (IMF)
and World Bank - Money Laundering Cir 03-428 (SD)
- 2004 - S25A DTROP
- 22.10.2004 FATF further amendments
46The General trend and development in anti-money
laundering and terrorist financing
- 2005
- Law Society Money Laundering Cir 05-291 (SD)
30.5.2005 - Bill
- OUR TALK ON 18 JUNE 2005
47Members of Financial Action Task Force
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Denmark
- European Commission
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Gulf Cooperation Council
- Hong Kong, China
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Portugal
- Singapore
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- United States
48Effect of the Laws/Regulations
- Overview
- Drug Trafficking (Cap 405)
- Organized and Serious Crimes (Cap 455)
- United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures)
Ordinance (Cap 575) - United Nations Sanctions (Afghanistan) Regulation
under the UNSO (Cap 537)
- Authorized Agent
- S25A ???,??? -???
- S25A, S3 to 5 Confidentiality or Professional
Privilege
49S12(1)
50Guidelines for Banking Practices
- Hong Kong Monetary Authority Guidelines
- Applies directly to all banking and deposit
taking activities in Hong Kong carried out by
authorized financial institutions
51Hong Kong Monetary Authority Guidelines
- HKMA Guidelines Section 5.21 effectively pass the
responsibility for the verification of customer
identity and apparent legitimacy from the bank to
the intermediary - A know-your-customer policy and procedure (KYC
policy) for financial institutions - A sample of KYC Questionnaire for client is shown
in the attached file.
52Examples of Suspicious Transactions
- Unusually large cash deposits
- Substantial increases in cash deposits
- Individual or company whose account shows
virtually no normal banking or business related
activities - Fictitious information provided for account
opening - Back-to-back deposit/loan transaction with
subsidiaries/ affiliates of overseas financial
institutions in known drug trafficking areas - Investment management services requested by
clients where source of funds is unclear or not
consistent with the clients apparent standing
53Examples of Suspicious Transactions
- Building up of large balances, not consistent
with known turnover of customers business, and
subsequent transfer to accounts held overseas - Unexplained electronic fund transfers
- Changes in employee characteristics e.g. lavish
life styles - Any dealing with an agent where identity of
ultimate beneficiary or counterparty is
undisclosed - Customers repay problem loans unexpectedly
- Request to borrow against assets where the origin
of the assets is not known
54The Securities Industry
- Equally vulnerable to money laundering and
terrorist financing - Likely to be used in Layering stage whereby
cash can be transformed into various forms of
assets such as securities, bonds, futures
contracts etc - Securities are highly liquid and therefore prove
attractive to money launderers
55SFC Guidance Note - April 2003
- Provide comprehensive guidance to the securities
industry in developing appropriate policies and
procedures to combat money laundering and
terrorist financing - For use primarily by corporations licensed under
SFO and associated entities which are not
authorized financial institutions
56Consultation paper on Proposed Revised Prevention
of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
Guidance Note (April 2005)
- To bring in line with new set of anti money
laundering and anti terrorist financing
recommendations issued by FATF in June 2003 and
Oct 2004 - To provide guidance on areas of practical
application e.g.identification of individual
customers ,measures to mitigate risk posed by non
face to face customers
57Examples of suspicious transactions
- Large or unusual settlements of transactions in
cash or bearer form - A client who deals with a broker only in cash
rather than through banking channels - Requests by customers for investment management
services where the amount of funds is not
consistent with the customers apparent standing - FATF issued a paper in April 2002 on guidance for
financial institutions in detecting terrorist
financing - Gazette notices
58The Insurance Industry
- Similar to the securities industry, the insurance
industry has its own guidance note in Nov 2000 to
guard against money laundering. The Guidance
Note is supplemented by 2 further guidance notes
published in June 2003.
59Insurance Industry Guidance Note
- The Guidance Note and other supplements apply to
all authorized insurers, insurance agents and
insurance brokers carrying on a long-term
business which are not financial institutions
authorized by the HKMA
60Insurance Industry Guidance Note
- The Guidance Note
- explains what is money laundering and terrorist
financing - sets out the principal HK legislation governing
these matters - sets out policies and procedures in dealing with
possible money laundering together with detailed
guidance on customer verification and retention
of records and - gives examples of suspicious transactions
61Examples of Suspicious Transactions
- Purchase of large single-premium insurance
policies and their subsequent rapid redemption - Request for early encashment of single premium
policies, for cash or settlement to an individual
third party - A money launderer may arrange with groups of
people to assign any legitimate claims on their
policies to be paid to money launderer
62Legal Industry
- Law Society Guidance Notes For Solicitors
- (Circular 97-280 attached)
- Aware of the legislation
- alert to any unusual circumstances
- make further enquiries of their clients where
appropriate - Institute anti-money laundering procedures
- appoint a compliance officer
- staff training
- establish internal reporting procedures
- establish record keeping procedures
63Law Society Guidance Notes For Solicitors
- The Office Manual of K. C. Ho Fong are in
compliance to the Law Society Guidance Note.
Extracts from our office manual are attached
64Case Study - Case 1
- Based on
- HKMA Guidelines Section 5.21 states
- Where the applicant for business who is acting
on behalf of another person is an intermediary
with which the financial institution has an
established business relationship and where the
institution is fully satisfied as to its
reputation, conduct and good faith, it shall be
reasonable for the institution to accept a
written assurance from the applicant for business
that evidence of the underlying principals has
been obtained, recorded and retained, and that
the applicant is satisfied as to the source of
funds - The guidelines effectively pass the
responsibility for the - verification of customer identity and
apparent legitimacy - from the bank to the intermediary
65Case 1 ...
- The case
- Mr. A, qualified
- accountant
Company B, subsidiary of major accounting firm
- Buy 2 shelf companies C and D both registered
in Western Samoa - No enquirers on beneficial owners of the shelf
companies, relying on professional relationship
with Mr. A - Open bank accounts in name of company C and
company D with a bank in HK
- Bank made no background enquiries due to its
established professional relationship with
Company B.
66Case 1 ...
- The case
- Transactions on Company Cs bank account
- Over HK3 million cash deposit
- No identification on depositor
- No withdrawals made ever
- Origin of the funds
- Over 90 million traced including the 3 million
in the bank account of company C. - Beneficial owner of company C arrested in UK for
dealing in proceeds of drug trafficking
67Case 1 ...
- The case
- Transactions on company Ds bank account
- Mr. F, beneficial owner of Co D
- used C550K cash from another bank
- (vis T/T
transaction cost HK7,000) - - Bank account of co. D in HK
- (vis T/T
in A - transaction HK10,825) -
- - Bank in Western Samoa
- Mr. F also used another C192K cash
- to buy US140K worth of T/chq
- __________________________________________________
___ - Origin of the funds
- Mr. F arrested in Australia charged with
conspiracy to traffic in dangerous drugs and
dealing in the proceeds of drug trafficking
68Case 1
- Indicators of money laundering in the case
- Use of shelf companies and company formation
agencies - Inconsistent account activity with no normal
business transactions - Account used as temporary repository (layering)
- Large cash deposits with no explanation as to
source of the money - Uneconomical transactions
- Involvement of off-shore financial centre
(Western Samoa)
69Case Study - Case 2
- Based on
- SFC Guidance Note on Money Laundering (Section
4.5.4) expects staff of SFC regulated
institutions to - (know) enough about a customers business and
financial circumstances to recognize that a
transaction, or series of transactions, is
unusual
70Case 2 ...
- The case
- Mr. Y 7M
- draw cheque
- on Co. X
-
Bank 1 - Address public housing unit
- Occupation not recorded
- Business address not recorded
7M cashier order
Active trading of shares of company N
Company Ns shares price rose by 27 in 2 months
- 15M cashier order
- 1.0M cash withdrawn
- 2M cash withdrawn
1.6M cash deposit 17M cashier order
- Co. X (controlled by Mr. P)
Bank 2
71Case 2 ...
Mr. Y draw 7M cheque on Co. X
- Sudden large sums of money passing through the
account - No information on Mr. Ys business activity to
explain source of funds - Unusual for low cost handling required to have
big amount passing through the accounts in
relatively short time
Bank 1
Bank 2
72Case 2 ...
Investigation by Police and SFC
- Mr. P (Senior member of triad society)
- Beneficial owner of Co.X
- Major beneficiary of 1.6M profit generated from
Mr. Ys dealing in Co. Ns shares
- Mr. Y (member of triad society)
Note Insufficient evidence to substantiate
criminal charges However, strong suspicion that
Mr. Y and Mr. P had conspired to create false
trading in Co. N shares
73Case 2
- Stock broker should have noticed and made a STR
- SFC Guidance Note 4.5.4
- Mr. Ys account was opened specifically to deal
in the shares of Co. N - Little information on Mr. Y or his business to
explain the trading of the shares with
substantial turnover and frequency - Investigated by JFIU but not prosecuted
- Reminded by JFIU to set up anti-money laundering
systems and reporting procedures
74Summary and Conclusion
- Note the following tips
- Purpose of anti-money laundering and
anti-terrorist financing legislation - against crimes
- Establish Internal Policy
- How to identify suspicious acts
- read the relevant industry guidance carefully
75Summary and Conclusion
- More importantly talk to your supervisor/ manager
about any suspicious acts/ transactions of
clients - Record / File Notes / Document Handling should be
well-organized and preserved at Godown / Storage - Good and sensible judgement
76Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist
Financing
77Contacts of K. C. HO FONG
- Office address
- 18th Floor, Henley Building,
- No. 5 Queens Road Central
- Telephone 2810 0707
- Fax 2845 3650/2840 1308
- E-mail office_at_kcho-fong.com
- Mr Junius Ho Partner Direct line 2523
3846 - Ms Anna Chong Consultant Direct line
2180 8683 - Miss Peggy Liu Consultant Direct line
2185 7777