The heads of the crime investigation units of Macau, Guangdong and Hong Kong met Monday in Macau to discuss ways to combat cross-boundary crimes and enforce social order in these three regions.

The meeting focused on their joint efforts in combating triads, commercial crime, human smuggling and drugs. They also exchanged information on tackling illegal activities.

Speaking at the joint meeting, Secretary for Security of the Macau SAR, Cheong Kuoc Va, said that residents of the three regions enjoy a stable living environment due to joint efforts which have succeeded in fighting cross-boundary crimes.

Mr. Cheong emphasized that although the judicial systems of the three regions were different, the police departments of Macau, Guangdong and Hong Kong would work together closely to fight crime.

The Macau delegation was led by the Secretary General for the Macau Security Coordination Office, Intendant Diamantino J. Santos. The delegations from Guangdong and Hong Kong were led by the Vice-Director of the Criminal Investigation Department Office of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, Mr. Zheng Shaodong, and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) of the Hong Kong SAR, Mr. Yam Tat-wing, respectively.

This bi-annual meeting is an opportunity for the heads of the crime investigation units to exchange strategies for combating cross-boundary crime and to discuss ways to further enhance communication between these three regions. The first meeting was held in Guangzhou in August 2000, and the second meeting was held in Hong Kong in March 2001.