Tseung Kwan O Division (TKODIV) launched a "Project PrimeHunter" with Sai Kung Division (SKDIV) and the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) of Marine Region in November last year to work closely with incense tree concern groups, scholars, villagers and government departments to tackle theft of incense tree in the rural areas.

 

On December 3 last year, TKODIV patrolled the theft black spots in the countryside with members of the incense tree concern groups, exchanged views on the means to deal with the problem and drew up co-operation plans.

 

On January 9, TKODIV, SKDIV, RIU and the concern groups jointly gave a press conference to announce their determination to tackle theft of incense tree and the successful arrests made by the police in 2014.  

 

In the press conference, representatives of the incense tree concern groups took the opportunity to present letters of appreciation to the police.

 

An inter-organisational meeting was held right after the press conference, where officers from the police, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and Lands Department, incense tree concern group members and scholars from the Chinese University of Hong Kong clarified each party's duties, established a liaison mechanism and formulated strategies for combating illegal falling of incense tree.

 

The incense tree concern groups were encouraged to play a more active role in providing the police with intelligence, while scholars pledged to help the police identify incense tree when necessary.