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The overall law and order situation in Hong Kong remained stable in 2009 with a drop of 1.1 per cent in the overall crime, according to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Tang King-shing.
Speaking at a press conference today (January 27) to review the crime situation in Hong Kong last year, Mr Tang said that during the period, a total of 77,630 cases of crime were recorded, representing a drop of 1.1 per cent when compared with 78,469 cases in 2008."
Mr Tang said the detection rate was 45.6 per cent, the same as 2008.
There were a total of 14,193 cases of violent crime recorded last year, a drop of 1.6 per cent when compared with 14,429 cases in 2008.
Noting that most categories of crimes recorded a fall, Mr Tang said the crimes with more number of cases on the rise included shop theft (up 14.9 per cent), deception (up 10.3 per cent), criminal intimidation (up 20.9 per cent), and pickpocketing (up 15.1 per cent).
¡§A total of 10,733 cases of shop theft were registered in 2009, being an increase of 1,390 cases or 14.9 per cent when compared with the previous year.
Mr Tang pointed out that one of the main reasons for the increase was the enhanced closed circuit television surveillance at chain stores, where goods were captured as being stolen, increased the tendency of the victims to report to the police, even if the offenders had already left.
¡§During the year, there were 5,130 deception cases, a rise of 477 cases or 10.3 per cent when compared with 2008. Increase was seen in common deception cases such as telephone deception and frauds related to lost or stolen credit cards,¡¨ Mr Tang said.
¡§Apart from the rise in the number of telephone deceptions in 2009 as compared with that of 2008, the money involved also saw an increase. However, over 70 per cent of swindlers in telephone deception failed in their crime attempts,¡¨ he added.
There were 2,338 criminal intimidation cases reported in 2009, representing a rise of 404 cases or 20.9 per cent when compared with 2008. Among them, 1,140 cases were due to money or various disputes (an increase of 232 cases or 25.6 per cent). 507 cases were related to debt collection, a rise by 92 cases or 22.2 per cent as compared to those of 2008.
A total of 1,082 pickpocketing cases were recorded in 2009, an increase of 142 cases or 15.1 per cent when compared with 2008. Police would continue to deploy experienced officers to pickpocketing black spots. Anti-pickpocketing publicity would also be enhanced to remind the public to be watchful and to take care of their personal belongings, especially in crowded areas.
Mr Tang also pointed out that other crimes such as miscellaneous thefts (down 7.7 per cent), theft from vehicle (down 15.3 per cent), burglary (down 6 per cent) and missing motor vehicles (down 18.7 per cent) all recorded a decrease.
The Commissioner also took the opportunity to talk about homicide, serious narcotics offences, domestic violence crimes and juvenile crimes. There were a total of 47 homicides reported in 2009, an increase of 11 cases when compared with 2008. Forty-four cases were detected, representing a detection rate of 93.6 per cent.
Mr Tang said that the significant rise in the number of homicide in 2009 was mainly due to two multi-homicide cases that claimed 10 lives. In early 2009, six passengers were killed in a traffic incident on Castle Peak Road, Lok Ma Chau while in mid-2009 a family of four was found murdered in a tin-roof house on Ping Che Road, Ta Kwu Ling.
"Homicide cases are serious and of our greatest concern. To combat such crime, Police have made unyielding effort, utilised multi-directional investigating techniques and deployed adequate resources in a bid to swiftly bring culprits to justice," he said.
¡§During the year, there were a total of 2,929 serious narcotics offences, a slight drop of 37 cases or 1.2 per cent when compared with the preceding year. Although a slight decrease was noted, the number of cases was still remarkable.¡¨
A total of 3,697 persons were arrested for serious narcotics offences, a decrease of 21 persons when compared with 2008. Although the number of arrest decreased slightly, the number of juveniles (aged 10-15) arrested for serious narcotics offences increased by 25 persons in 2009. The total number of students arrested in such cases were 240, an increase of 31 persons when compared with that of in 2008.
In 2009, 24 drug-related cases occurred in schools were recorded, a rise of 9 cases compared with 15 cases in 2008. A total of 41 students were arrested in such cases in 2009, compared with 24 students in 2008.
"Of the 2,929 serious narcotics offences recorded in 2009, 2,520 cases involved psychotropic drugs, making up 86 per cent of the overall serious narcotics offences. Those cases involving ketamine made up the biggest proportion of 63.4 per cent in cases involving psychotropic drugs,¡¨ Mr Tang said.
¡§Since the local drugs supplies are mostly cross-boundary, we will continue to work closely with the anti-drug agencies on the Mainland and overseas to intercept drugs at their origins, and strengthen joint enforcement actions with the Customs and Excise Department,¡¨ he said.
¡§Internally, intelligence-led operations against drug trafficking activities will continue to be coordinated by the Narcotics Bureau. Particular attention will be paid to the supply of dangerous drugs to the youths or minors being used in drug trafficking activities.¡¨
Mr Tang said that the number of criminal domestic violence cases recorded in 2009 was 2,373, an increase of 32 cases or 1.4 per cent when compared with 2,341 cases in 2008. These cases were mostly triggered by disputes over money and relationships.
Turning to juvenile crimes, Mr Tang said that there were 4,006 juveniles (aged 10 to 15) and 4,684 young persons (aged 16 to 20) arrested for crimes in 2009. However, it was worth noting that the total number of juveniles and young persons arrested for crimes is 8,690, a drop of 318 or 3.5 per cent when compared with 2008.
"The crimes committed by them were predominantly miscellaneous thefts, shop theft, wounding/serious assaults and serious narcotics offences," he said.
Introducing the operational priorities for this year, Mr Tang said that upon review, the Force Operational Priorities for 2010 would retain seven of the operational priority areas identified in 2009. With the successful hosting of the East Asian Games last year, the priority highlighting the importance of effective policing of this event was deleted accordingly.
The seven operational priority areas are violent crime, triads, ¡¥quick cash¡¦ crime, terrorism, trafficking and abuse of dangerous drugs, offences related to visitors and illegal immigrants and road safety.
¡§In the coming year, the Police will closely monitor any impact from the economic uncertainties on the law and order situation, make prompt deployment, and enhance intelligence exchange with our adjacent jurisdictions to maintain Hong Kong as one of the safest cities in the world,¡¨ Mr Tang concluded.
Also attending the press conference to review the law and order situation in 2009 were the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Yam Tat-wing, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Management), Mr Tsang Wai-hung.
Police Report No. 8
Ends/Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Issued at HKT 22:18
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