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II's by sea down almost half
 Cue review: RC Marine Spencer Foo in the media spotlight |
Marine officers arrested significantly fewer illegal immigrants last year, just 390 compared to 729 the year before. Marine Regional Commander Spencer Foo Tsun-kong said the 46.5 per cent drop was encouraging, and comparable with the general fall in II arrests across Hong Kong.
Reviewing last year's crime situation at sea, before the press on February 7, Mr Foo attributed the drop to the unrelenting efforts of Marine officers and to co-operation with the Mainland.
Last year, 60 people in 28 cases were arrested for aiding and abetting IIs, compared with 36 people involved in 34 cases in 1999.
In general crime, 327 cases were recorded last year and the detection rate was 48.6 per cent. Marked decreases were noted in violent crimes against people, dropping from 53 in 1999 to 36 in 2000. While miscellaneous crimes, including criminal intimidation and fighting in a public place, also fell significantly from 33 in 1999 to 18 last year.
There were 283 smuggling cases, seeing 836 people arrested and seizures valued at $91,284,120. The figures were up over 1999 when there were 129 cases with 420 arrests and seizures amounting to $72,933,767. Smuggled left-hand-drive vehicles, however, dropped notably from 14 in 1999 to five in 2000, with arrests decreasing to 16 from 45.
Mr Foo said $285.76 million to replace six patrol launches had been approved, and delivery would start in August. Some $24.43 million was also approved for the replacement of three Water Jet Boats patrolling in Deep Bay with two dumb lighters and six high-speed interceptors. The new $70 million communications system was also being commissioned.