IT issues: SSP Raymond Lau with CIP Hilton Chan

Computer crime increased slightly by nine per cent with only 380 cases last year, despite a sharp surge in 1999.

However, the cases were becoming more technical and complicated, especially those involving the Internet. The demand for Commercial Crime Bureau officers to attend crime scenes with computer exhibits, and conduct computer forensics examinations, has increased as sharply as the IT boom. PC and Internet users have increased 300 per cent in the last two years.

CCB Senior Superintendent Raymond Lau Chi-keung said there were 380 computer crime cases in 2000 compared to just 34 in 1998. These involved mostly hacking, obtaining property by deception, obscene articles and criminal damage.

"When you look at user statistics there has been a huge jump, but at the same time, the computer crime rate has remained steady. We have done a lot of work on the prevention and awareness side," SSP Lau said.

"Officers have been visiting schools to raise computer-crime awareness among youngsters, and have given seminars to the Department of Justice and the Judiciary to keep prosecutors and judges abreast of the latest IT crime trends. We have also liaised with service providers and other IT professionals which helps keep us up-to-date with the latest technology development and innovations."

Plans to expand CCB's Computer Crime Section into a Division headed by a Senior Superintendent with a forensic computer crime lab were in the works, along with a Force-wide training package to ensure every officer had a certain level of knowledge on dealing with computer crime. A Technology Crime Initial Response Cadre has been established, made up of more than 80 talented officers who would receive in-depth training. Talented officers would also be able to attend tertiary courses on computer science.

SSP Lau said there was also solid overseas liaison. "I have just returned from the Interpol Asia and South Pacific Regional Working Party of IT Crime and was selected vice-chairman. The Force has done a lot to combat IT crime and other countries in the region are very interested in what we have achieved," he said.

The working party recently produced a report, now undergoing public consultation, and it shows two areas in which the Force has taken a lead role - experience in computer crime and forensics examination, and the drawing up of a code of practice.

"We are the leading agency in the region and have been entrusted by many countries to do this project because of our experience. This reflects our hard work greatly when you consider the sheer expanse of Hong Kong's Internet network. We have almost 200 Internet Service Providers," Mr Lau said. Most hackers were students showing off their talents to their peers, however, they needed to be made more aware of the potential damage they could cause.

Computer Crime Section Chief Inspector Hilton Chan Kwok-hung said: "Youngsters must understand that this is a serious offence which warrants custodial sentences of up to 10 years. Many youngsters are unaware of the serious criminal damage they can cause by hacking into another site, and it is difficult to quantify just how much this type of damage can cost a company. So we are not just targeting youths in solving this problem, but the industry also.

"One of the best ways to hinder computer crime is through simple prevention such as good anti-virus programmes, firewalls and secure passwords. And it is very important, particularly for anti-virus software to be activated and updated constantly. Viruses spread so fast now, especially through chain mail. Never pass these on or open email from unknown sources."