[Vision and Statement of Common Purpose and Values] [Foreword] [Operations]
[Regional Commanders' Report] [Personnel and Training]
[Management Services] [Finance, Administration and Planning]
[Environmental Report] [Organisation] [ Annexes, Crime Charts and Appendices ]

A further challenge was to ensure that the numerous crowd management and public order events that took place during the year were conducted in a safe and orderly manner. Due to the increased global threat of terrorism, it was imperative that vigilance was maintained over the many consulates and financial institutions located in Hong Kong.

For the future, we will continue to meet the challenges ahead and tackle various key crimes to ensure that Hong Kong continues to remain a safe place for local residents, business visitors and tourists alike.

Hong Kong Island Region
During 2004, the Region continued to devote substantial resources and time to policing public order and crowd management events. A total of 654 public meetings, 312 public processions and 955 crowd management events were successfully managed. Major public order and crowd management events were the January 1 and July 1 public processions, the Air Display by Patrouille de France, Legislative Council Election and the visit of the Chinese Olympic Gold Medalists. The Region is currently in the process of planning for the 6th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation to be held in Hong Kong in late 2005.

In line with the territory-wide trend, Hong Kong Island Region noted an encouraging decrease in the number of crimes as compared to the preceding year. Of particular note were a 35.8 per cent decrease in robberies and a 24.7 per cent decrease in burglaries. The Region continued to work closely with the Crime Prevention Bureau, Police Public Relations Branch and District Fight Crime Committees to enlist the support of the community in the fight against crime. With the opening of a new Central Division Police Station and a Police Services Centre in the heart of the Central Business District, the Region remained committed to enhancing its service to the public.

An emerging problem during the year was the robbery of hikers inside country parks. In order to quickly identify the exact location of any incident in a rural setting, a scheme was introduced whereby all existing signage was allocated coordinates and computerised. This innovative approach enabled a faster response to incidents and has received a positive response from the public.

Further initiatives within the Region included the deployment of a Regional Anti-Pickpocket Team which was deployed at areas popular with tourists and was effective during the "Golden Week" holidays, when some 246,000 individual visitors entered Hong Kong. The Region gave assistance to the organisers of the four Hong Kong International Jewellery Shows during the year, resulting in a dramatic reduction in the value of items stolen during the shows.

Kowloon East
Kowloon East Region recorded a decrease of 7.8 per cent in overall crime as compared to the preceding year. The fall was mainly attributable to a significant decrease in burglary as well as "quick cash" crimes such as bullying type robberies and miscellaneous thefts.

In terms of crime prevention, a major project was initiated to reduce burglaries in public rental housing estates by reminding property management and security companies to tighten access to individual blocks. This resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in burglaries in these estates. The further expansion of rail networks, as seen in the opening of the KCR East Rail Ma On Shan Line in December, added to the Region's railway policing commitments. Through close cooperation with the KCRC, Railway District has been closely monitoring the new Ma On Shan Line to ensure no adverse impact on the crime situation.

Further rationalising of police resources will be implemented. This includes the amalgamation of Tsz Wan Shan and Wong Tai Sin Police Stations. The Region will however remain committed to providing an effective and obvious uniform Police presence in all areas, responding to emergencies and major incidents in a professional manner and working further to capitalise on the partnership already built up with private stakeholders.

Kowloon West Region
In 2004, Kowloon West (KW) Region focused on four key areas, namely burglary, pickpocketing, handling stolen goods, and vice. As a result, there was a general decrease in the overall crime rate of 0.9 per cent with particular success recorded against burglary, which saw a 16.7 per cent decrease as compared to 2003. Also of note was the decrease in both deception cases and vehicle theft, which fell 11.5 per cent and 26.4 per cent respectively.

Given the large number of entertainment premises within the Region, stringent enforcement action was taken against drugs, triad-related crime and incidents of late night violence. In respect of drugs, dangerous drugs raids recorded a success rate of 89 per cent along with a 4.6 per cent reduction in the number of persons arrested for such offences. The Region continued to take strong and determined action against triads with four major operations launched during the year to tackle the sources of triad income. Vice establishments, counterfeit cigarettes, obscene video CDs, and illegal gambling establishments were tackled. A highly visible Police presence in the vicinity of entertainment premises helped to reduce incidents of late night violence.

There were also a significant number of major public order and festive crowd management events during the year, all of which presented major policing challenges. In particular, the fireworks and "Symphony of Lights" displays and the newly completed Avenue of Stars attracted record crowds, especially visitors from the Mainland.

In April, officers from the Emergency Unit KW undertook a project to install "Police information signage" inside country parks within the Region. A total of 33 Police information signs were installed in strategic locations within the parks so that members of the public could easily identify their location in remote areas in case of emergency.

In conjunction with other Government departments and Non-Governmental Organisations, considerable efforts were devoted to strengthening relations with ethnic minority groups in the community.

New Territories North Region
In 2004, the Region recorded an encouraging decrease of 11.8 per cent in reported crime as compared to 2003. Sophisticated policing strategies and a wide range of anti-crime initiatives reduced most key crimes such as robbery, burglary and vehicle crime.

In tackling juvenile problems, a multi-agency approach was pursued focusing on prevention, detection, education and aftercare services. These initiatives resulted in a 9.2 per cent drop in the number of juveniles arrested as compared to the preceding year.

Although reports of crime involving triads remained at a comparatively low level, intelligence-led operations were regularly mounted to disrupt the income of syndicates.

2004 saw an increase of both passenger and vehicular flow at the four land boundary crossing points in the Region. The introduction of the "Individual Visitors Scheme" placed significant pressure on crowd management and related anti-crime deployment. Despite a record flow of travellers at Lo Wu Boundary Crossing Point, the multi-agency Joint Command Centre led by Police functioned well.

In order to provide adequate services to new immigrants arriving in the Region, various in-house and external training courses were arranged to enhance officers' interpersonal skills, languages, social interaction and their handling of domestic violence.

Despite shrinking resources, the Region continued to improve its services and to upkeep law and order by reviewing policing strategy and enhancing its information technology capabilities.

New Territories South Region
A total of 13,700 crimes were recorded in New Territories South (NTS) Region during 2004, a decrease of 12 per cent over 2003. The overall reduction in local crime was attributable to the maintenance of a high Police presence on the streets as well as numerous anti-crime operations conducted throughout the year.

There were notable law enforcement successes in various formations against triad-related extortion, criminal intimidation, drug and vice racketeering. Undercover operations were conducted against organised extortion of street vendors, turf-wars between opposing triad factions and syndicated street-level drug trafficking.

As a result of demographic development and the development of public and private housing in NTS districts, 2004 saw an increase in juvenile involvement in theft cases. The pro-active targeting of youth gangs involved in triad-related and drug trafficking activities, and the implementation of community policing initiatives through regular liaison with local communities, will be further developed.

Throughout the year, NTS Region continued to plan and run exercises designed to improve officers' ability to respond to various incidents. The Force carried out a simulated "Sarin" attack at the Tsuen Wan West Rail Station, and assisted both the KCRC and the Railway District in running a series of mini exercises on the Ma On Shan Extension prior to the line's opening to the public.

Throughout 2004, the Airport District continued to work closely with partners in the airport community to ensure that the Airport remained a safe, secure and user-friendly aviation facility despite the global terrorist threat. In 2004, the Region continued to provide enhanced security coverage for arrival and departure of VIPs including President of the Republic of France and Deputy Prime Minister of the State of Israel.

In 2004, the expansion of both the road and rail networks in NTS Region, including the West Rail and East Rail's Ma On Shan Extension, continued to increase the commitment of traffic personnel to both infrastructural planning and the enforcement of traffic legislation. The Disneyland Theme Park is scheduled to open in September 2005. The workload for traffic duties will increase as the Disney project progresses and other developments mature along Lantau's northern shoreline.

Challenges facing NTS Region over the coming year include dealing with the increasing number of local and overseas visitors to attractions on Lantau, many of which are scheduled for completion in 2005. These attractions include the HK Disneyland Theme Park, an International Convention and Exhibition Centre at Chek Lap Kok and the Cable Car link from Tung Chung to the Big Buddha at Ngong Ping, due for completion in early 2006.

Marine Region
2004 provided the Region with some unique challenges. The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code came into force during the year. In preparation for this, the Region completed its research into the introduction of new operating protocols for maritime policing. A package of recommendations will see the integration of a technologically advanced coastal security system with digitally enhanced radar. This will provide coverage over the waters of Hong Kong. It will be complemented by a new fleet of faster, more efficient patrol vessels to provide an effective and timely response to maritime incidents.

The new operating protocols require capital investment to replace a significant number of ageing Police launches. However, considerable recurrent expenditure savings will accrue in the longer term. The new protocols will further strengthen our compliance with the ISPS Code and ensure an improved focus of resources to deal with the multitude of activities associated with policing one of the busiest ports in the world.