August 01, 2012

Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok says the law and order situation in Hong Kong remained stable, with 141 more crime cases in the first half, a rise of 0.4%. There were also 17 more violent crime cases, a 0.3% rise. 
 
Briefing the media after attending the Fight Crime Committee meeting today, Mr Lai said crimes recording year-on-year increases include deception (13.5%), criminal damage (7%), pickpocketing (8.2%) and miscellaneous thefts (0.6%).
 
Some violent crimes also increased, including serious assault (4.1%), indecent assault (5%), criminal intimidation (1.9%), homicide (114.3%) and rape (9.1%).
 
He said some crimes recorded year-on-year decreases, including shop theft (-10.2%), missing motor vehicles (-28.3%), burglary (-4.9%), all robberies (-23.9%), theft from vehicle (-12.4%), arson (-26.9%) and blackmail (-7.8%).
 
Mr Lai said there were 1,061 serious drug offences in the first six months, compared to 1,059 during the same period last year. There were 306 young people arrested for drug-related crimes, 51 less than the same period last year. Forty-five of them were aged 10 to 15, and 261 of them aged 16 to 20.
 
He said ketamine and cannabis seized in the first half rose year-on-year, while some other drugs - including heroin, Ice and Ecstasy-type drugs - recorded decreases. Most of the ketamine, cannabis, cocaine, heroin and Ice was seized at the boundary control points.
 
He reiterated Police will stay alert and co-operate with other countries to curb the source of drugs and prevent drugs from entering Hong Kong. He said the Government will also tackle the drug problems through law enforcement, forfeiting drug-dealing gains, and preventive and educational measures targeting young people.
 
Mr Lai said the number of young people arrested for crime fell in the first half. Those aged 10 to 15 dropped 24% to 1,421, while those aged 16 to 20 fell 3.2% to 2,041. Most were involved in shop theft, miscellaneous theft, wounding, serious assault and serious drug offences.
 
He added the Police will adopt effective preventive measures and strengthen law enforcement to ensure stable law and order in Hong Kong.