Commissioner of Police Dick Lee has called for closer ties between Hong Kong and Mainland police in fighting cross-boundary fraud.

Opening a four-day seminar at Police Headquarters today, which discusses the issue, he said Hong Kong and Mainland investigators should fully understand their counterparts' work in handing pyramid selling-related fraud to effectively combat the crime.

Mr Lee said pyramid selling and similar frauds, such as advance fee fraud and cash planting, involved a substantial amount of money and a great number of victims, requiring relentless efforts in investigation and prosecution.

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As Hong Kong and the Mainland differ in their legal and administrative procedures in criminal investigation and tracking of illicit money, they must better understand each other's policing methods, he said.

The seminar aims to strengthen co-operation and experience sharing between the two sides. The Mainland delegates are headed by the Assistant Minister of Public Security Zheng Shao-dong. Macau delegates include representatives from the Macau Judiciary Police Fraud Investigation Section.

The seminar covers laws and case studies on pyramid selling-related frauds, and other economic-related crime, such as employment fraud and Internet crime. Other topics include organisation structures, charters, investigation procedures and existing liaison channels of respective enforcement agencies in the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.