The seminars were held between the end of last year and early this year during which ideas were exchanged between Police and the participants on enhancing preventive measures against burglaries and facilitating communications and co-operation.

Following the seminars, uniformed beat patrol officers of Kwai Chung Division made follow up inspections on the progress and performance of security guards and, where necessary, gave advice on improving security measures.

The result of these visits showed that factory burglaries dropped from 54 cases in the last two quarters of 2001 to 38 cases in the first two quarters of this year.

Apart from follow up checks, the Task Force personnel of Kwai Chung Division also conducted questionnaire surveys on the security system and the method of inspection adopted in frequently burglarised factory buildings. The information collected was used to form a checklist for uniformed patrol sub-units to take follow up actions. Following the success of these seminars, Police recently extended the scheme to cover residential buildings, particularly public housing estates, focusing on prevention of burglary and vehicle crime inside car parks.

In a seminar held recently, the attendants included Housing Authority managers and the managers of security companies.

Chief Inspector Chiang Yan-wa, Assistant Divisional Commander Operations of Kwai Chung Division, said: "The seminar drew positive and enthusiastic response from the Housing Authority and the security companies because of the enormous benefit it would bring, and most importantly it would help reduce burglaries and theft from vehicles in housing estates."

"In just a couple of months, we have seen security in housing estates heightened resulting in a significant drop in burglaries," Mr Chiang added.