S for S speaks on shooting case in Quarry Bay Park
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Reporter: Mr Lee, gun crimes are very rare in Hong Kong. Should Hong Kong people be concerned about this latest incident? Do you think that the shooting case yesterday shows we need to review the regulations of import and control of firearms?
Secretary for Security: I pay serious attention to the homicide case yesterday, in which the culprit used a genuine firearm. The Police will do a very thorough and serious investigation into the case. I have also asked the Police to look at the smuggling of the firearms into Hong Kong and see whether there are things we need to follow up. I must emphasise that in regard to the firearms control of Hong Kong, the laws are strict. Anybody who wants to possess a gun, he must get the approval from the Commissioner of Police and a license in which the conditions including the use and storage of the firearms are very clearly specified. In regard to smuggling of firearms by person or by goods, both the Immigration Department's officers and customs officers have been taking strong enforcement actions. So collectively, the law enforcement agencies exercise strict controls on the inflow of firearms into Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's crime rate is low. In 2017, the crime rate was the lowest in 46 years. Robbery cases had gone down by 35 per cent in 2017, and there was no genuine firearms robbery last year. So the Hong Kong crime situation is stable. The law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong will work hard to ensure that we remain a safe city in which the threat of firearms is prevented.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Issued at HKT 15:08
Issued at HKT 15:08
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