CPD Course:
Fakes, Theft,
Money Laundering
and Fraud:
Art, Antiquities and Crime

This 3-hour seminar will provide an introduction to art, antiquities and crime.  In 2011 the Global Financial Initiative estimated the illegal art and cultural property trade to be worth an between US$3.4 and US$6.3 billion annually, with areas most at risk of loss including China, Thailand, and much of southeast Asia.  As Hong Kong is one the world’s major art and antiquities markets and arguably the most important market for Asian art and antiquities, the seminar will consider the laws of Hong Kong affecting these crimes or intended to affect them.  The seminar will consider crimes targeting art and antiquities, and crimes using art and antiquities.  Topics covered will include: the theft and looting of art and antiquities; handling stolen works and trafficking looted items; protecting against prosecution, and protecting against reputational and financial loss; due diligence for dealers, collectors and auction houses; frauds and confidence tricks using art and antiquities; money laundering and terrorist financing using art and antiquities; and, fakes, forgeries, imitations, tributes and copies.  The seminar will conclude by considering the future for art and antiquities law.

• the theft and looting of art and antiquities;
• handling stolen works and trafficking looted items;
• protecting against prosecution;
• protecting against reputational and financial loss;
• due diligence for dealers, collectors and auction houses;
• frauds and confidence tricks using art and antiquities;
• money laundering and terrorist financing using art and antiquities;
• fakes, forgeries, imitations, tributes and copies- when is a tribute a fake?