Safe city: Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee says Hong Kong's law and order situation is stable with falls in homicides, robberies and burglaries.

Hong Kong's law and order situation remained stable in the first five months of the year with homicides, robberies and burglaries falling 40%, 23.5% and 15.8%.

There were 33,877 crime cases, up 3.9% on the same period last year, with domestic violence, serious narcotics offences and criminal intimidation rising 112%, 37% and 32.3%.

Speaking after today's Fight Crime Committee meeting, 
Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said youth drug abuse is alarming. Officers seized 47kg of methylamphetamin in the first five months, up 2,250% over a year earlier. The seizure of cannabis rose 714.3% and that of ecstasy 1,249.6%. However, ketamine seizures fell 91.1%.

Police and Customs officers will enhance enforcement to deter drug smuggling, Mr Lee said, adding that the Government will enhance anti-drug publicity directed at young people. The Government will also strengthen co-operation with schools, social workers and non-government organisations to help parents identify youngsters with drug problems so specialists can offer assistance at an earlier stage.

In response to reports alleging that Police allowed legislator Leung Kwok-hung to leave while other customers had been detained at a disco in Tsim Sha Tsui during a vice raid last Saturday, Mr Lee said Police are conducting an internal inquiry into the matter. The secretary said officers conducting vice raids usually will try their best to minimise inconvenience caused to customers. They will not detain people who are unrelated to the operation's objective under normal circumstances.