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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 (February 25):
Reporter: Despite the 4.2% drop in overall crime, the number of deception cases in January alone rose by 42.4%. Why is that the case despite the publicity last year? What is being done?
Secretary for Security: We cannot use the one month figure as an indication that this must be the trend for 2011. But of course, we are concerned when we discovered the number of deception cases in the year 2010 compared with 2009. It recorded an increase despite the fact that the overall crime rate decreased by 2.1%. And that is why in our current year's publicity campaign, one of the themes is to focus on deception, especially through telephone. We hope that by focusing on this kind of criminal activity, we can arouse the alertness of Hong Kong people to this type of deception crime and deception cases. That is also why we have included one of the themes to protect yourself against sexual offences. We have also realised that many young people, especially young girls, have made acquaintances through the net. Sometimes they were sexually assaulted or even raped through this kind of contact. So in the coming year, we will step up publicity in this area as well.
Reporter: China has started a massive evacuation exercise of Chinese nationals from Libya and is also helping Hong Kong residents to evacuate. Do you know how many people from Hong Kong are being assisted?
Secretary for Security: There are not too many Hong Kong residents "stranded" in Libya. We have received a number of enquiries through our help desk - the hotline. So far we are still locating the reported Hong Kong resident now working in Libya. But we have sent out an SMS through the telephone number we got from his relative in Hong Kong, advising him if he needs help he should approach or telephone the Chinese Embassy there. If needs be, we can always offer help. That is the latest situation.
Reporter: Has he already left?
Secretary for Security: I don't know, but we have offered the facility that they can get on the plane, the ship or even coaches to leave Libya.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, February 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:37
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