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Following is the transcript (English portion) of the remarks made by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, at a media session at the ground floor lobby, West Wing, Central Government Offices, after the Fight Crime Committee meeting this afternoon (November 26):
Secretary for Security: The Fight Crime Committee has reviewed the overall crime situation in Hong Kong. Generally speaking, the law and order situation remained very stable. The overall crime rate has dropped by as much as 3.2%. For violent crime, it dropped by 4.2%. The kinds of crime that recorded a decline included serious narcotics offences, shop theft, theft from vehicle and robbery. And the kinds of crime that reported an increase included miscellaneous thefts, indecent assault and pickpocketing. What is encouraging is that the number of serious narcotics offences has recorded a drop as much as over 25%. The number of young people committing offences has dropped as much as 10%. The overall law and order situation in Hong Kong is very steady. But we will remain vigilant to keep Hong Kong as one of the safest cities in the world.
Reporter: Regarding the rise in pickpocketing offences, what caused the increase? Shopping season and festive season? What is the reason of iPhone being snatched? What sort of advice you have for the people? The second question is about the relationship between ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) and the Police as a result of the so called high-profile arrest?
Secretary for Security: The number of pickpocketing offences has indeed increased, as one of your colleagues has mentioned, by as much as 30% so far this year. These offences normally took place in busy districts like Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai, Mongkok where there were many people in large shopping arcades. And some of these racketeers and their accomplices will do something to catch your attention and their accomplices will pick your pocket and your money. The Police have stepped up their efforts in patrolling these busy areas and they have also received special training in identifying these pickpocket syndicates. We have also stepped up our publicity campaign to advise the public to take care of their personal belongings. You mention the snatching case where a citizen's iPhone 4 was snatched by three robbers. According to the statistics, the number of robbery cases had actually dropped by double digits so far this year. I hope this is only an individual case. But still the Police are now making efforts to investigate. We hope we can locate the culprits.
Now you mention the relationship between ICAC and the Police because of the recent arrest case in ICAC. According to my knowledge, the Police and ICAC do have a sort of understanding this kind of arrest should be as low key as possible. The Police have told me that their intention was to conduct the operation in a very low key manner. Unfortunately your colleagues got wind [of it]. On that very morning, several reporters mounted surveillance outside the ICAC headquarters. Someone told me that they were not meant to target this case because the ICAC has other cases in hand. Unfortunately you got wind [of it] and the Police were going to ICAC and there were large crowds of reporters gathering outside ICAC. The Police felt that they had to send officers there to maintain order and several dozen police officers arrived. This was not meant to be a high profile case. As you know I was previously the Commissioner of the ICAC. In my day, and it is equally true now, the two commissioners had regular meetings unofficially. They meet just to maintain close liaison and more often than not, the ICAC and police co-operate where they have a common objective to maintain good law and order in Hong Kong and to fight crimes. I think their common areas are much and much larger than the differences. I don't think you will witness another sort of ICAC and police conflict.
Reporter: Did you receive any complaint from the ICAC...?
Secretary for Security: No.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, November 26, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:21
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