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Police will continue to enhance road safety through the three-pronged approach of enforcement, education and publicity.
The remarks were made by the Director of Operations, Mr Wong Chi-hung, today (July 31) at a press conference to review the crime situation in Hong Kong in the first half of 2013.
Reviewing general road safety in Hong Kong, Mr Wong said the number of traffic accidents in the first six months of 2013 was 7,649, representing a decrease of 191 when compared with the same period of last year. The number of fatal traffic accidents also decreased by five to 50.
Overall traffic enforcement actions totalled 792,926 in the first half of 2013, representing an increase of nine per cent as compared with 724,969 in the same period of last year.
The number of arrests arising from drink driving-related traffic accidents in the first six months of this year had decreased to 106 persons, as compared with 117 in the same period of last year. Pre-screening tests increased from 59,791 to 79,049, up 32 per cent when compared with the same period of last year.
As of June 30, 2013, 17 drivers have been arrested for various drug driving offences, a decrease of 41 per cent when compared with 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, representing an increase of three per cent over the same period last year. The number of fatality involving cycling accident also increased by two to five.
To address concerns over cycling safety, Police have taken stringent enforcement action against all cycling offences. A total of 6,954 verbal warnings and 6,769 summonses had been issued against cycling offences in the first half of 2013, both up 13 per cent over the same period in 2012.
Mr Wong said in order to promote road safety and enhance operational efficiency, Traffic Branch Headquarters has been conducting a two-month trial of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system starting June 2013.
As of June 30, 2013, four trials were conducted which resulted in a total of 46 Fixed Penalty Tickets issued and two persons arrested for ．Driving without third party risks insurance・ and ．Outstanding traffic arrest warrant (Non-payment of fine)・ respectively. Upon the 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 in the first six months of 2013 and 480 MIIs were arrested, representing a decrease of 205 over the same period of last year.
There were 66 MIIs 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 by MIIs were aiding and abetting illegal immigrants, theft, using a false instrument, immigration offences, burglary and going equipped for stealing.
In addition, 24 female MIIs were arrested for prostitution, a decrease of 51 when 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. The offences committed by them were immigration offences, using a false instrument, wounding, theft, trafficking in dangerous drugs and possession of dangerous drugs.
Regarding crimes committed by Mainland visitors (MVs), Mr Wong said from January to June in 2013, 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 when compared with the same period of last year. The main offences committed by MVs were theft, using a false instrument, serious assault and deception.
Between January and June this year, 1,480 MVs were arrested for involvement in prostitution, representing a decrease of 82 over the same period of last year. A total of 969 illegal Mainland workers were also 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 adopting the 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," he said.
Mr Wong also pointed out that engaging the community is one of the Force・s Strategic Directions and it is important to enlist community support for maintaining Hong Kong as one of the safest and most stable societies in the world.
Many NECs in Hong Kong were born and brought up here, but they find difficulties in integrating into the community because of their different level of Chinese proficiency. Various Police Districts have been organising different programmes to engage the NEC communities as well as to enhance their Chinese 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 been enlarging in the past years. As criminals may take the elderly as easy targets, the Force sees a need to play a proactive role to reach out to these vulnerable members of the community with a view to enhancing the safeguard to them and minimising their chance of being victims of crime.
Police launched the Senior Police Call Scheme on December 21 last year and an official Chinese name was elected on June 14 this year. The Force-wide implementation of the scheme 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 to develop partnership with the elderly community so as to promote crime prevention and their road safety awareness.
In recent years, Police have been proactively optimising the use of web-based platforms and social media to expand the communication network and strengthen communication 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/response to media enquiry or report, notification of public meeting/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 existing community network to assist the public to better understand our work so as to strengthen community support and cooperation," Mr Wong added.
Police Report No. 309
Ends/Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:54
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