About 7 700 students participated in the Cyber Security Competition 2017 jointly organised by the Force and the Department of Computer Science of The University of Hong Kong (HKU). After assessment, 95 winners were presented with 137 awards in a prize presentation ceremony at Cyberport on February 10.

The officiating guests, Director of Crime and Security Li Chi-hang, Government Chief Information Officer Mr Allen Yeung and Director of Centre for Information Security and Cryptography of HKU Dr KP Chow, presented awards to the winners.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Li said that the number of technology crimes increased from 2 206 cases in 2011 to 6 862 cases in 2015, while pecuniary losses grew significantly from $140 million to $1.83 billion. In view of the changing crime pattern and its growing impact on society, the Force established the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau in early 2015 to combat such crimes. Since then, the number of technology crimes dropped to 5 567 cases in 2017, a sharp decrease of 20 per cent.

Mr Li added that the competition was built on the theme of "Cyber Security Starts from YOUth" with the aim of encouraging youngsters to use good cyber security practices and to remind their families and friends to stay alert to cyber security risks.

The competition, comprising the categories of primary schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions, covered online quiz, presentation on cyber security issues, and security vulnerability analysis in simulated computers. For details, please visit: www.hkcybersecuritycompetition.net.