Speaking at a press conference on July 31 to review the crime situation between January and June this year, Mr Lo said that during the period, a total of 36,068 cases of crime were recorded, representing a decrease of four per cent compared with the 37,584 cases in the first half of 2012.

 

A total of 6,074 violent crime cases recorded in the first half of this year, a decrease of 5.9 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year.

 

Mr Lo said the crimes with the number of cases on the rise included deception (up 10 per cent), blackmail (up 62.3 per cent), indecent assault (up 7.2 per cent), and homicide (up 2.5 fold).

 

 

There were 3,585 cases of deception, a rise of 325 cases or 10 per cent compared with the same period of 2012.  More increases were seen in email scam, online business fraud and social media fraud.

 

Police received 511 reported cases of email scam in the corporate level, an increase of 342 cases or two-fold compared with the same period of last year. The amount of loss went up from $64 million in the first half of 2012 to over $310 million in the same period of 2013, about a four-fold increase. About 29 per cent of the victimised companies were Hong Kong companies.

 

As regards email scam on personal level, Police recorded 292 cases in the first six months of 2013, a rise of 151 cases or more than one-fold compared with the same period of last year.  The total amount of money lost increased by more than one-fold to $1.1 million, ranging from several hundred dollars to $270,000.

 

The first half of 2013 also saw a total of 650 online business fraud cases, an increase of 165 cases over the same period of 2012. 438 cases were related to online auction or shopping.

 

In social media fraud, there were 109 reported cases, an increase of 65 cases or more than one-fold compared with the 44 cases in the same period of 2012. The amount of loss was $20 million which was about the same as the corresponding period in 2012.

 

"Due to the continuous upsurge in the usage rate of the social media, as well as the popularity of smart phones, people face increased risk when meeting strangers through social media. The swindlers may use social media to approach victims and ask them to transfer money by using different pretexts, or meet the victims and steal their properties," Mr Lo said.

 

"In view of the rising trend, we have already added ‘social media deception' to the area of ‘Quick Cash Crime' under the Commissioner's Operational Priorities 2013.  Police have also enhanced multi-agency co-operation, exchange of intelligence and crime prevention publicity with a view to increasing the public's understanding and awareness of online fraud.

 

"Police introduce the common modus operandi of social media fraud by producing videos and posting them on Hong Kong Police YouTube which can be easily accessed by the public. Moreover, seminars are held in primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions to promote preventive measures against social media fraud," Mr Lo added.

 

 

There were 250 reports of blackmail in the first six months of 2013, an increase of 96 cases or 62.3 per cent over the same period of 2012.  The increase was mainly due to the rise in the number of blackmail cases related to "Naked Chat". Police received 131 blackmail cases related to "Naked Chat", an increase of 111 cases or more than five-fold compared with the 20 cases in the same period of 2012.  Most of the victims were males, who acquainted with the swindlers through social media platform or instant messaging programmes and then were induced to make some indecent exposures, during which photos or video clips were taken for blackmail.

 

As regards indecent assault, Police received 759 cases in the first half of 2013, an increase of 51 cases or 7.2 per cent compared with the same period of 2012.  Cases committed by strangers constituted nearly 70 per cent of the total figure.  The rise was mainly due to the sharp increase (totalling 192 cases, up 46 cases) in the number of cases reported on public transport and related places. More than 50 per cent (109 cases) occurred within MTR areas.

 

There were 53 homicide cases in the first half of 2013, a 2.5-fold increase compared with the 15 cases in the same period of last year. The upsurge in homicide cases was due to the Lamma Island ferry collision on October 1, 2012, which claimed 39 deaths.  The two captains were charged with 39 counts of manslaughter in April 2013.  Disregarding this incident, the figure was similar to that of last year.

 

All the 53 homicide cases were detected.  Among the 14 homicide cases excluding the Lamma Island ferry collision, four involved domestic violence, five were committed by relatives (three involved parents being killed by sons and their friends), two were caused by triad disputes, one was manslaughter while the remaining two resulted from disputes or mental illness.

 

Mr Lo noted that crimes such as miscellaneous theft (down 6.3 per cent), burglary (down 19.5 per cent), criminal damage (down 10.7 per cent), and wounding and serious assault (down 8.6 per cent) all recorded a decrease.

 

 

There were 255 robbery cases in the first half of 2013, a drop of 64 cases or 20.1 per cent compared with the same period of 2012.  More than 50 per cent of the cases were street robberies without genuine firearms involved.

 

Serious drug cases totalled 1,086, a slight rise of 25 cases or 2.4 per cent compared with the same period of 2012.  Cases involving "ice", cocaine and cannabis were on the rise, while decreases were recorded in cases involving heroin and ketamine.

 

Compared with the figures recorded in the same period of last year, increase was recorded in the seizure of heroin, "ice" and cocaine in the first half of 2013, namely 51 kg (up 23 kg), 80 kg (up 64 kg) and 85 kg (up 26 kg) respectively. The increase was mainly the result of detection of drug-trafficking cases at control points by the Police and the Customs and Excise Department, as well as territory-wide police anti-drug operations.

 

There were 946 domestic violence crime cases in the first half of 2013, a decrease of 15 cases over the same period of last year. Police also recorded 314 domestic violence miscellaneous cases (down 113 cases), and 6,120 family incident cases (up 148 cases) in which violence was not involved and the cases were of minor nature.

 

Police will continue to adopt an inter-departmental and multi-disciplinary approach to tackle problems of domestic violence.  Even if a case does not involve violence or breach peace, Police will also conduct a risk assessment and make referral so that the person or family in need can be provided with appropriate assistance. In the first half of 2013, cases with referral made to Social Welfare Department totalled 3,479, representing almost half of all domestic conflict cases.

 

A total of 2,866 juveniles and youngsters were arrested for crime in the first half of 2013, a drop of 596 persons or 17.2 per cent compared with the same period of last year. Most of them were arrested for wounding and serious assault, shop theft and miscellaneous theft, drug offences and unlawful society offences. 

 

Mr Lo said that Police would continue to monitor all crime trends closely and pay particular attention to those crimes with cases on the rise, especially deception. Other than enforcement action, public education on prevention of deception would also be an important task of police.

 

"Moreover, since young people will access the Internet, visit entertainment premises or find summer job during the summer vacation, they may fall preys to various crimes or exploited for criminal activities. In view of this situation, police have enhanced enforcement action to combat drug problems and other related youth crimes, particularly on entertainment premises and places where young people linger. 

 

"Police have also formulate publicity plans and activities, such as crime prevention seminars in schools before summer vacation and the JPC (Junior Police Call) Fight Crime Summer Camp, to make youngsters understand more about employment fraud, Internet crime, youth drug offences and sexual offences, and to strengthen their awareness of the need to beat drugs," said Mr Lo.

 

 

Police would continue to enhance road safety through a three-pronged approach of enforcement, education and publicity, said Director of Operations Wong Chi-hung at the press conference.

 

Reviewing general road safety in Hong Kong, Mr Wong said there were 7,649 traffic accidents in the first six months of 2013, representing a decrease of 191 compared with the same period of last year. The number of fatal traffic accidents also decreased by five to 50.

 

Traffic enforcement actions totalled 792,926, an increase of nine per cent compared with the 724,969 in the same period of last year.

 

The number of arrest arising from drink driving-related traffic accidents dropped to 106 persons, compared with the 117 in the same period of last year. Pre-screening tests increased from 59,791 to 79,049, up 32 per cent. 

 

As at June 30, 2013, 17 drivers have been arrested for various drug-driving offences, a decrease of 41 per cent compared with the 29 in the corresponding period of last year. No casualties were recorded in drug driving traffic accidents in the first half of 2013 while there were seven in the same period of 2012.

 

In the first half of 2013, there were 1,206 cycling related accidents, an increase of three per cent over the same period last year. Deaths involving cycling accidents also increased by two to five.

 

To address concerns over cycling safety, Police took stringent enforcement action against all cycling offences. A total of 6,954 verbal warnings and 6,769 summonses were issued for cycling offences, both up 13 per cent over the same period in 2012.

 

To promote road safety and enhance operational efficiency, Mr Wong continued, Traffic Branch Headquarters started conducting a two-month trial of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system in June 2013.

 

As at June 30, 2013, four trials were conducted, resulting in 46 Fixed Penalty Tickets being issued and two persons arrested for "Driving without third party risks insurance" and "Outstanding traffic arrest warrant (Non-payment of fine)" respectively.  Upon completion of the trials, Police will conduct a review of the project to determine whether it should be adopted Force-wide.

 

 

Turning to the issue of illegal immigrants, Mr Wong said the number of Mainland illegal immigrants (MIIs) showed a downward trend with 480 MIIs arrested, representing a decrease of 205 over the same period of last year.

 

Sixty-six MIIs were arrested for criminal offences from January to June this year, an increase of 13 over the same period of last year. The main offences committed were aiding and abetting illegal immigrants, theft, using false instrument, immigration offences, burglary and going equipped for stealing.

 

In addition, 24 female MIIs were arrested for prostitution, a decrease of 51 compared with the same period of last year.

 

In the first six months of this year, 291 non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants (NEC IIs) were arrested, an increase of 102 over the same period of last year.  Fifteen NEC IIs were arrested for committing crimes, same as the corresponding period of last year.

 

Regarding the crimes committed by Mainland visitors (MVs), there were 18.68 million MV arrivals, a rise of 3.21 million over the same period of last year. Among them, 635 were arrested for committing criminal offences, a decrease of 34 compared with the same period of last year. The main offences committed by MVs were theft, using false instrument, serious assault and deception.

 

Between January and June this year, 1,480 MVs were arrested for involvement in prostitution, a decrease of 82 over the same period of last year. A total of 969 illegal Mainland workers were arrested in the past six months, an increase of 353 over the same period of last year.

"Police and other law enforcement agencies will continue to adopt a three-level approach, including effective screening at all immigration control points and enhancing joint enforcement action, to tackle the problem of Mainland visitors committing crime in Hong Kong," said Mr Wong.

 

 

Many NECs in Hong Kong were born and brought up here, but they have difficulties in integrating with the community because of their levels of Chinese language proficiency. Police Districts have organised different programmes to engage the NEC communities and enhance their language proficiency, such as Project Gemstone in Yau Tsim District and Project Himalaya in Yuen Long District.

 

In addition, the elderly population in Hong Kong has grown in the past years. As they are easy preys for the criminals, police see a need to play a proactive role to reach out to those vulnerable members of the community and protect them against the criminals.

 

Police launched the Senior Police Call Scheme on December 21 last year and an official Chinese name was selected on June 14 this year. Implementation of the scheme Force-wide will be formalised by the end of 2013.

 

Through the Senior Police Call, the Force aims at providing an effective platform to enhance communication and develop partnership with the elderly community for crime prevention and road safety.

 

In recent years, Police have made optimal use of web-based platforms and social media to expand the communication network with different community groups.

 

The HKP (Hong Kong Police) Mobile App, since its launch in July last year, has produced three enhancement versions to provide the public with a variety of Police information, including press releases, clarification or response to media enquiry or report, notification of public meeting or public procession and e-report room.

 

Hong Kong Police YouTube was also launched on March 26 this year.  Up to June 30, a total of 172 videos were uploaded, featuring different aspects such as crime prevention, Police work and public appreciation.

 

"Police will continue to engage the community and expand the existing community network to help the public understand our work better and to strengthen community support and co-operation," Mr Wong said.