In session: Commissioner Tsang Yam-pui briefs the media with Deputies Douglas Lau and Dick Lee before the new Force slogan

Delivering his year-end review before the media on January 18, Commissioner Tsang Yam-pui said overall crime increased a marginal 0.6 per cent, from 76,771 cases in 1999 to 77,245 cases last year.

"In the context of our increasing population, the general crime rate dropped 0.3 per cent to 1,139 cases per 100,000 people, which is one of the lowest rates among major cities in the world," he said.

Violent crime reports fell by 5.7 per cent, with significant reductions in robbery, wounding and serious assault cases. Overall robbery reports dropped by 207 cases, or 5.7 per cent, while wounding and serious assaults decreased 6.8 per cent to 6,903.

Head-bashing robberies fell 26 per cent to 114, while bank robberies dropped 25 per cent to 18. Homicides recorded a significant drop of 31.7 per cent to 43, the lowest figure in 30 years. Criminal intimidation, including debt collection, fell 14 per cent to 1,135. Cases involving debt collection decreased 33.8 percent to 425. Mr Tsang said the number of illegal immigrant arrests declined significantly, falling some 30 per cent to 8,476. The number of IIs arrested for criminal offences was 1,033, an 11 per cent drop.

However, some crimes increased last year. Shop thefts rose 12 per cent to 6,973 while deception cases increased 16.4 per cent to 3,986. Among the deceptions, the use of lost, stolen or fake credit cards increased 38.9 per cent or 337 cases, while street deceptions increased 35 per cent or 159 cases.

Forgeries went up 20.7 per cent to 1,078. Among them, credit card cases increased 73.6 per cent to 125, and identity card cases increased 30 per cent to 216. Fake banknote cases remained unchanged at 84 but there was an increase in the seizure of $1,000 and $100 denominations.

Meanwhile, Mr Tsang expressed concern over a 13 per cent rise in juvenile crime, predominately related to drug offences, which he attributed to the burgeoning local rave party culture.

Arrests of youngsters aged seven to 15 rose from 5,486 to 6,229. Although the number of people aged 16 to 20 arrested for crime had decreased 8.1 per cent to 6,465, there was a sharp increase of 77.5 per cent in the number of people under this age apprehended for drug offences, rising to 1,873. "The rise is largely assessed as the result of abusing psychotropic drugs at rave parties. Steps are being taken not only to step up enforcement but also to educate and protect young people," Mr Tsang said.

The press conference also saw the unveiling of the new Police motto 'we serve with pride and care' which would soon be displayed Force-wide.

World-wide reach: The CP's briefing was webcast live on the Internet for the first time