Hong Kong is set to host the 94th INTERPOL General Assembly in 2026, marking the first time the event will be held in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the third time it has taken place in China.
The announcement underscores Hong Kong’s growing role in global policing cooperation, with the General Assembly expected to bring police chiefs and ministers from INTERPOL’s 196 member states to the city. The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body, providing a platform for senior law enforcement leaders to discuss global security challenges and strengthen international collaboration.
Vice Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, Xu Datong, said the decision reflects continuity in China’s engagement with INTERPOL.
“We take pride in recalling that China hosted the INTERPOL General Assembly in Beijing in 1995 and 2017, and this time, Hong Kong, China will be the host city for the 94th General Assembly in 2026,” he said.
At the closing ceremony of the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly in Morocco last November, Xu formally received the INTERPOL flag alongside Hong Kong SAR Commissioner of Police Chow Yat-ming, symbolising the handover to Hong Kong as the next host city.
Commissioner Chow said Hong Kong’s selection highlights national trust in the HKSAR and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), while reinforcing the city’s role as an international “super connector” in global policing.
“Having served at INTERPOL and attended General Assemblies in cities such as Rome, New Delhi, Vienna and Glasgow, I never imagined Hong Kong would have the opportunity to host this prestigious event,” Chow said. “When our country proposed Hong Kong as the host, I felt deeply honoured.”
He added that the HKSAR Government and the HKPF intend to use the event to showcase positive developments in China and Hong Kong, as well as the effectiveness of the “One Country, Two Systems” framework.
Hong Kong has a long-standing association with INTERPOL. The HKPF operates as a sub-bureau under China and plays an active role in the organisation, contributing expertise in areas including major crime trends, cybercrime and financial crime. HKPF officers are regularly seconded to INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon, France, and the Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore. Currently, three officers are serving in key roles, including financial crime coordination and technology crime management.
The HKPF is also restructuring its international engagement strategy to strengthen ties with overseas law enforcement agencies, particularly in ASEAN countries and those participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, in response to evolving transnational crime threats.
A key focus has been cross-border financial crime. The FRONTIER+ platform, launched in October 2024, now connects 13 jurisdictions and enables real-time intelligence sharing and interception of fraudulent funds. In November 2025, the HKPF hosted its inaugural Ethics Governance Roundtable in Hong Kong, with participation from INTERPOL, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and representatives from multiple jurisdictions. Discussions focused on ethics governance and personal financial risk management.
INTERPOL’s delegation to the roundtable was led by Eugênio Ricas, Director of the Office of Internal Oversight, with the event delivering what the HKPF described as constructive and practical outcomes.
Commissioner Chow said hosting the 2026 General Assembly is a top priority for the HKSAR Government, with preparations already well underway.
“The HKPF is maintaining close communication with INTERPOL and China’s National Central Bureau to ensure smooth hosting of the 2026 General Assembly,” he said, adding that he hopes visiting delegates will experience Hong Kong’s vitality, hospitality and cultural diversity during their stay.
The event is expected to further reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a key hub for international law enforcement cooperation and dialogue.
Image: The Vice Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Xu Datong (second left, front row), accompanied by the Hong Kong SAR’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming (first left, front row), receives the INTERPOL flag at the closing ceremony during the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly in Morocco last November, symbolising that the next General Assembly will be held in Hong Kong
