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The first six months of 2003 saw a significant drop in the number of serious and major crime despite a 19 per cent increase in overall crime.

The Director of Crime and Security, Mr Chau Foo-cheong, gave the above remarks at a press conference today (July 22) to review the crime situation in the territory between January and June this year.

"Despite the increase in overall crime, Hong Kong remains one of the safest cities in the world," Mr Chau said.

During the period, a total of 43,894 cases were recorded, representing an increase of 19 per cent over the 36,894 cases in the first half of last year.

However, the number of serious and major crime such as homicide (down three per cent), robbery (down 247 per cent), missing vehicle (down 13 per cent), wounding (down 64 per cent), rape (down 19 per cent), triad-related activities (down 137 per cent) and drug abuse (down 150 per) registered a significant drop.

Noting that there was a general increase in the number of "quick cash crime" such as snatching, pickpocketing, shop theft, theft from vehicle and miscellaneous theft, Mr Chau said that Police spared no efforts in the fight against these kind of crime.

He added that the crackdown on "quick cash crime" was one of the operational priorities of the Force this year.

Mr Chau pointed out that Police had achieved satisfactory results in the fight against triad activities; the abuse of psychotropic drugs among youngsters and violent crime and would continue to crackdown on the "quick cash crime" and illegal activities committed by illegal immigrants and two-way permit holders.

In the first half of this year, the territory witnessed a fall in the number of robbery of all kinds (down 14.3 per cent to 1,483 cases). Bank robberies dropped 39.1 per cent to 14 though goldsmith/watch shop robberies registered a marginal increase of one case, bringing the total number to four.

Moreover, the total number of young persons and juveniles arrested for crime in the first six months of this year registered a drop of 3.1 per cent and 13.7 per cent respectively.

Mr Chau said that the number of deception cases dropped 3.8 per cent from 2,396 to 2,304 and the number of street-level deception significantly fell 45.9 per cent from 477 to 258.

"To curb street-level deception, Police have implemented measures which have achieved satisfactory results," he added.

Apart from "quick cash crime", Mr Chau noted that the other major crime category that had registered an increase in the first half of this year was "anti-social crime" such as serious assault, assaulting police, criminal intimidation, arson, resisting arrest, criminal damage, and disorderly/fighting in public place.

"To effectively bring anti-social crime under control, Police have increased knowledge and training of frontline officers on how to handle the situation. Clear guidelines have been given to them. Publicity has been stepped up to remind members of the public of their civic responsibility," he added.

Police Report No. 3

Issued by PPRB

End/1850 hours, Tuesday, July 22, 2003

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