***********************************
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 in the West Wing of Central Government Offices after the Fight Crime Committee (FCC) meeting this afternoon (June 23):
Secretary for Security: The Fight Crime Committee has reviewed the law and order situation of Hong Kong for the first five months of 2009. In general, the crime statistics remained steady. The overall crime figure decreased by as much as 1.2% and serious crime by 0.5%. Crimes that recorded a decrease included burglary, robbery, miscellaneous thefts and arson. Those crimes that had registered an increase included shop theft, theft from vehicles, criminal intimidation, criminal damage, etc. One area that is a concern for us: Although the number of serious drug offences remained rather steady as compared with the figure of last year, the number of young offenders who had committed serious drugs offences rose by more than 10%. That is a concern for us. So, I would like to appeal to young students to stay away from drugs, especially during the summer holidays when they have lots of time to play and to study, and I would urge them to make use of the time to enrich themselves and to train up.
Reporter: How would you describe the morale of the Police at the moment? Was it on the agenda of the Fight Crime Committee?
Secretary for Security: I think you are referring to the demands of certain Police unions and Police groups on some disputes on pay and grade structure. Well, I fully understand the concern of our policemen, and for that matter, of the disciplined services departments in general. But I have full confidence in our disciplined services. They are professional officers, and for the past decade or past 12 years after reunification, they are the main contributing force in maintaining Hong Kongˇ¦s stability and prosperity. So I have full confidence in our disciplined services officers and our police officers to continue to maintain Hong Kongˇ¦s law and order and stability and prosperity.
Reporter: Was it discussed in the meeting today?
Secretary for Security: Not in the context of the Fight Crime Committee (meeting).
Reporter: One more question about drug abuse in summer. What is the committeeˇ¦s forecast for this summer given the extra holidays that they are getting? Would the drug problem among youngsters be more serious?
Secretary for Security: We do not make any forecast per se. But every year during summer holidays, students have lots of time to kill. So once more, I would appeal to students to make use of the time to enrich themselves and to keep themselves fit and healthy.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:36
NNNN