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Crime rates remain low
The overall crime rate of Hong Kong in the first half of 1999 is still much lower than that of many other metropolitan cities despite a slight increase during the period.
Crime cases recorded for the first six months of this year rose 9.2 per cent to 37,162, over the 34,025 offences occurring in the same period last year.
However, several serious crimes continued the downward trend. They included robberies with genuine firearms which fell 33.3 per cent, homicides which dropped 35.3 per cent, serious narcotic offences went down 21.2 per cent, 11.5 per cent for indecent assaults, and burglaries which fell 3.1 per cent.
Director of Crime and Security Louis Lau Chun-sing said at a press briefing on August 26 that while the number of violent crimes increased 8.1 per cent to 7,456, figures for bank robberies and rapes remained the same.
 D C&S Louis Lau Chun-sing |
Mr Lau said the projected figures for overall crime and violent crime for the whole year were expected to rise by about 10 per cent.
He said although the projected numbers may be higher, the fact was 1997 and 1998 had seen the lowest number of crimes in the past 20 years, and 1996 figures may be more comparable.
Robbery cases increased 11.1 per cent to 1,655, however certain robbery categories actually decreased. Only five goldsmith/watch shop robberies occurred compared with nine in the first six months of 1998, a 44.4 per cent fall.
There were also only two cases of robberies with genuine firearms recorded, compared with three during the same period last year.
However the significance of the continuing fall in this offence over recent years was highlighted by the seven cases recorded for the whole of last year, compared to the 66 cases in 1990.
Almost 33 per cent of robberies for the first half of 1999 occurred on the street while 71.2 per cent involved stolen property worth less than $5,000.
There were 33 robberies with pistol-like objects, up 13 cases. This type of robbery has been decreasing in the past three years. A total of 76, 66 and 50 cases were recorded in 1996, 1997 and 1998 respectively. Theft cases, including shop lifting and pickpocketing, rose 12.8 per cent to 14,099.
Criminal damage cases rose 31.2 per cent to 3,613.
Stolen vehicle reports went up 9.6 per cent to 1,238, however the number of luxury cars stolen dropped 3.4 per cent to 57 cases. More than half of the stolen vehicles were recovered.
Mr Lau said it was the result of joint efforts by Hong Kong Police and their Mainland counterparts to combat cross-boundary crime, and cooperation would be stepped up.
On crimes committed by juveniles and young people, Mr Lau said 6,199 youngsters were arrested for various offences, a figure similar to that in the first half of last year. Mr Lau also pledged to get tough on the spate of head-bashing robberies. Some 85 cases have occurred in Kowloon West and New Territories North in recent months.
"While Police have attached great importance to these crimes, it is believed they were not organised but were committed by individuals copying the modus operandi of others," Mr Lau said.
"Police are actively investigating the cases through every means and there will be more Police presence at blackspots," he added. 'Quick-cash' crimes, such as robbery, pickpocketing, shop and other thefts, blackmail and criminal intimidation, might increase. However, all crime would be fought through prevention, investigations and stepped up patrols.
"Our objective is to enable Hong Kong people to continue to live in a society of low crime rates," Mr Lau said.