Fall in the rate of serious and major crime
The first six months of this year saw a significant drop in the number of serious and major crime despite a 19 per cent increase in overall crime, said Director of Crime & Security Mr Chau Foo-cheong.
Mr Chau said: "Despite the increase in overall crime, Hong Kong remains one of the safest cities in the world."
Mr Chau and the Director of Operations, Mr Tang King-shing, at a recent press conference, reviewed the crime situation in the territory between January and June this year.
During the period, a total of 43,894 cases were recorded, representing an increase of 19 per cent over the 36,894 cases in the first half of last year. However, there was an improvement in the number of serious and major crimes: homicides were down by three per cent; robberies were down by 247 per cent; missing vehicles were down by 13 per cent; woundings were down by 64 per cent; rapes were down by 19 per cent; triad-related activities were down by 137 per cent; and, drug abuse was a significant drop by 150 per cent. Moreover, the total number of young persons and juveniles arrested registered a drop of 3.1 per cent and 13.7 per cent respectively.
Reassuringly, it was an across the board fall in the number of robberies of all kinds (down 14.3 per cent to 1,483 cases). Bank robberies dropped 39.1 per cent to 14 though goldsmith/ watch shop robberies registered an increase of three cases, bringing the total number to four.
Noting that there had been a general increase in the number of 'quick cash' crimes such as snatching, pickpocketing, shop theft, theft from vehicle and miscellaneous theft, Mr Chau said that a crackdown in this area was now one of the operational priorities of the Force.
Mr Chau said that the number of deception cases dropped 3.8 per cent from 2,396 to 2,304 and the number of street-level deception cases significantly fell 45.9 per cent from 477 to 258.
Apart from 'quick cash' crime, Mr Chau noted that the other major crime category that had registered an increase in the first half of this year was 'anti-social' crime such as serious assault, assaulting police, criminal intimidation, arson, resisting arrest, criminal damage, and disorderly conduct/fighting in public place.
"To effectively bring anti-social crime under control, Police have increased knowledge and training of frontline officers on how to handle the situation. Clear guidelines have been given to them. Publicity has been stepped up to remind members of the public of their civic responsibility,"he added.
Cross-boundary criminals
Speaking about the rising incidence of crime by Mainland visitors and illegal immigrants, Mr Tang King-shing explained that in April an Inter-departmental Task Force had been formed under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner (Operations) to implement a three-level strategy which would involve an effective and stringent application process by the Mainland issuing authorities for two-way permits and PRC passports holders, achieve effective screening at all immigration control points and enhance local enforcement.
On the arrest of illegal immigrants, Mr Tang said that for the first half of 2003, 1,748 were arrested, representing a drop of 45 per cent when compared with 3,154 arrested in the corresponding period of 2002.
"Regular and ad hoc liaison meetings and intelligence exchange with the Mainland authorities will be enhanced with a view to containing the present situation,"Mr Tang added.
Team Clean support
Turning to the Team Clean initiatives, he said that the Commissioner had pledged support to assist the Food & Environmental Health Department (FEHD) and Housing Department (HD) to reduce and eventually remove long-standing nuisances such as street obstruction and illegal hawkers.
Police, working with FEHD and HD, had succeeded in eliminating illegal cooked food hawking activity in six black spots in the public housing estates with the arrest of 44 suspected illegal hawkers between May 29 and July 8.
Between May 29 and July 13, Police issued a total of 193 fixed penalty notices and 251 summonses for public cleanliness offences, and assisted other public officers of FEHD and HD on 44 occasions. When required, Police would play an active role in specific anti-litter operations organised by FEHD at identified black spot areas and provide support to both FEHD and HD staff when they conducted operations, he said.
The Force has also organised 13 workshops for July and August on conflict management for 320 staff of the six enforcement departments, namely FEHD, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Environmental Protection Department, Housing Authority, Leisure and Culture Services Department and Marine Department.
D C&S Mr Chau Foo-cheong and D OPS Mr Tang King-shing at the press conference