Law and Order Police Hong Kong remains one of the world's safest cities. Residents and visitors feel comfortable taking a stroll at any time of the day or night. Hong Kong's 1997 crime rate of 1 036 crimes per 100 000 population was the lowest for 24 years. It is roughly the same as that in Singapore and lower than that in Tokyo, London and major cities in the USA, Canada and Europe. The police-to-population ratio of 426 police to every 100 000 residents is one of the highest in the world. The police retain responsibility for the law and order situation in Hong Kong, which includes the patrolling of the boundary with neighbouring Shenzhen. Enhanced co-operation with Mainland authorities led to a 23% drop in the number of illegal immigrants and a 30.7% drop in the number of illegals arrested for crime in 1997 when compared with 1996. Hong Kong remains a member of Interpol as a sub-bureau of China and maintains close working relationships with overseas law enforcement agencies in the ongoing fight against organised crime, narcotics, currency and credit card fraud and money laundering. Protecting Intellectual Property New laws introduced in March 1998 and new licensing procedures introduced in December 1997 reinforce ongoing and concerted efforts to stamp out the piracy of intellectual property rights, especially movies, songs and computer software. Since December, the import and export of optical disc manufacturing equipment have been subject to licence. New laws passed in March require the licensing of all businesses involved in the production of optical discs. Customs officers have been given extended powers to conduct spot checks to ensure premises are not involved in the manufacture of pirated goods. Enforcement action against piracy has been considerable - more than 28 million suspected pirated optical discs and manufacturing equipment, together worth more than $1.2 billion (US$154 million), have been seized by Customs and Excise officers and the Independent Commission Against Corruption in the first five months of 1998. In addition, in what is thought to be a world first, a schools visits programme has been launched by the Intellectual Property Department to increase public education about why piracy is wrong and how it adversely affects Hong Kong's international reputation. So far, more than 25 000 school children from 90 schools have participated. The aim is to visit all 400 secondary schools within the next five years. The Hong Kong SAR Government has expressed disappointment that the United States has failed to fully recognise the considerable efforts taken to combat piracy. This followed the publication of the United States Trade Representative's Report in April, which kept Hong Kong on its copyright piracy 'watch list'. Hong Kong will continue to take vigorous enforcement action against piracy and to lobby the US Trade Representative for a review of the rating. Immigration Since July 1, 1997, Hong Kong has been responsible for its own immigration policies and the issuing of the HKSAR Passport. The government continued to lobby actively for visa-free access for SAR Passports, of which more than 550 000 have been issued since July 1, 1997. As at June 2, 1998, 47 countries have granted visa-free access. Lobbying efforts are continuing and bearing fruit as more countries become familiar with the passport and its state-of-the-art security features. In January 1998, the Immigration Department introduced a Travel Pass scheme which allows pass holders to use residents' counters at immigration control points as part of ongoing efforts to make travel easier for businessmen and women who already have visa-free access to the Hong Kong SAR. Hong Kong has continued its liberal visa regime. Nationals from more than 170 countries and territories can visit the SAR visa free. More people than ever are calling Hong Kong home. The expatriate population continues to increase, rising to 500 945 at the end of March - a 9% increase over the 460 481 expatriates living in Hong Kong at the end of 1997. Emigration dropped 23% to 30 900 in 1997, compared with 40 300 in 1996 and a peak of 66 200 in 1992. The net inflow of Hong Kong residents has also surged considerably - 127 000 in 1997 compared with 63 900 in 1996 and 20 400 in 1994. Last updated: June 1998