Following the launch of "Operation HILLCASTLE" in Tseung Kwan O, the number of rural burglary cases in the area dropped by 72 per cent from 81 cases in 2014 to 23 cases in 2017. Officers of Tseung Kwan O District (TKODIST) have been alerting community stakeholders of the crime trend and gathering intelligence with the aid of a 24-hour hotline and WhatsApp. "HILLCASTLE Ambassadors" are recruited every year to spread anti-crime messages to local residents and extend TKODIST's intelligence-gathering network.

This year, 59 "HILLCASTLE Ambassadors" were appointed at a ceremony on August 4. They were recruited from villages, local organisations, property management companies and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Students' Union.

Speaking at the ceremony, TKODIST Commander Kong Hok-lai recognised the encouraging results of "Operation HILLCASTLE" and expressed his gratitude to all community stakeholders for their support. He cited a case in which officers arrested a suspect through police-public partnership under "Operation HILLCASTLE". Also attending the ceremony, the District Councillor concerned presented silver plates to Mr Kong, Assistant District Commander (Operations) Wong Ho-hon and Task Force Sub-Unit officers for their outstanding performance.

Other honourable guests at the ceremony included Regional Commander of Kowloon East Cheung Ching, Acting District Officer (Sai Kung) Mr Chow Tat-wing, Chairman of Sai Kung District Fight Crime Committee (SK DFCC) Mr Chan Kuen-kwan, Chairman of Hang Hau Rural Committee Mr Sing Hon-keung, Sai Kung District Councillors and SK DFCC members.