Despite an environment of increasing challenges and rising expectations, a number of achievements were made in the prevention and detection of crime in 2005.

The overall crime situation in 2005 compared favourably with that of the year before. Burglary, “quick cash” crimes including robbery, and theft-related offences were the categories that contributed most to a drop in overall crime of 4.8 per cent. Also encouraging was the considerable drop of 17.9 per cent in the number of serious narcotics offences. Although ketamine remained the first choice drug of abuse for young people in 2005, the constant pressure by Police on notorious entertainment venues quelled the previously escalating abuse of the drug. The arrest of young people involved in psychotropic substances fell by a significant 44.2 per cent.

Tripartite cooperation with the Mainland and Macao authorities in the combat of cross-boundary crimes was one of the Force´s priorities in 2005. Enhanced tripartite liaison during the year not only strengthened our partnership, but also widened our scope of cooperation. Two tripartite operations were successfully mounted in June and October as a result of which a number of organised syndicates were neutralised and large seizures of crime proceeds, drugs, betting slips, fake goods and pirated discs were made.

Organised Crime and Triads

There were numerous proactive intelligence-led operations throughout the year aimed at combating triad-related criminal activities. More than 45 successful operations resulted in the arrest of over 700 persons for various offences. Several high-ranking triad office-bearers were also arrested. Recognising the importance of working hand-in-hand with partners, high-level liaison and intelligence sharing continued with other law enforcement agencies worldwide. This holistic approach has become increasingly necessary due to the globalisation of criminals and their involvement in syndicated crimes.

Criminal Intelligence

Throughout 2005, the Criminal Intelligence Bureau consistently produced quality intelligence in support of the Force´s effort to tackle organised and serious crime as well as triad activities. Operationally, the Bureau initiated a number of intelligence-led operations and worked in close partnership with other units in the Force to achieve a number of excellent results. The Bureau also delivered quality intelligence targeting triad activities, resulting in the arrest of 278 triad members during triad society elections and two tripartite anti-triad operations. These were conducted jointly with Guangdong Public Security Department and Macao Police.

In pursuit of experience sharing and best practices, the Bureau continued to actively participate in the management of the Asia Region Heads of Criminal Intelligence Working Group throughout the year. The Bureau also conducted a triad course for 23 law enforcement officers representing 18 law enforcement agencies from around the world.

Commercial Crime

The Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) continued to adopt a proactive approach to intelligence-led investigations of syndicated and serious fraud, counterfeit and forgery cases, as well as technology crime.

The Bureau´s responsibility to protect investors from the unscrupulous actions of directors of listed companies received an encouraging boost in June when the former chairman and CEO of a listed company was convicted of two counts of false accounting (involving $300 million) and sentenced to six years´ imprisonment. This was a landmark case for enhancing corporate governance standards in Hong Kong.

In September, two local residents received US$4.48 million (HK$35 million) lost in a Nigerian investment fraud case that occurred five years ago. The recovered funds were returned through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria, with the help of CCB. The case marks the first recovery and return of crime proceeds from Nigeria.

Offences perpetrated by street deception gangs subsided throughout the year. Our three-pronged approach of intelligence-led investigation and proactive targeting of suspects, extensive publicity campaigns as well as enhanced liaison with Mainland authorities caused a decline in cases and reported losses in 2005. CCB also took proactive action against syndicates involved in counterfeiting activities, and several joint operations with Mainland, Japanese and British law enforcement agencies were mounted. Arrests were made in all jurisdictions and over 800 counterfeit credit cards were seized.

The Bureau´s head of Technology Crime is also the Chairperson of the Interpol Asia-South Pacific Working Party on Information Technology Crime. Following the establishment of a state-of-art technology crime training suite in Police Headquarters in February, the Force is able to produce highly professional technology crime training courses for its own members, including a CD-ROM based e-learning package on “Understanding Technology Crime and its Legal Issues”. The Force continues to forge public and private partnerships in the fight against technology crimes.

Narcotics

Combating trafficking and abuse of dangerous drugs was one of the Force´s operational targets for the year. Police were determined to use all available means to protect Hong Kong society from the dangers of drug abuse. The overall number of arrests for drug-related offences fell in 2005. However, the total seizures of ketamine, methamphetamine and herbal cannabis increased due to several multi-kilogram interdictions.

The increasing popularity of cocaine continued. To deal with the growing problem, enforcement action was stepped up and the number of cocaine-related arrests consequently rose in 2005. The developing trend of “crack” cocaine abuse became a matter for concern following increases in local production and seizures. Furthermore, a trend towards selling methamphetamine in divans (places where the drug is both sold and abused) was noted in 2005.

Narcotics Bureau´s joint efforts with Mainland and overseas counterparts to tackle the cross-boundary and transnational drugs trade reaped rewards with numerous successful cases. Through such cooperation, a number of substantial drug consignments were seized before reaching their intended destination in Hong Kong and other jurisdictions.

Financial Investigation

Financial investigation is an essential tool in tackling organised crimes. During the year a good number of complex financial investigations were conducted, and 53 money launderers were prosecuted. The Force also actively participated in local and international initiatives against money laundering and terrorist financing. In February and May, in partnership with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism seminars were held in Hong Kong. In September, a series of seminars was held for compliance officers of the banking, securities, insurance and remittance/money changing industries to enhance their knowledge and awareness. Over 700 compliance officers from private sector industries attended the seminars.

Crime Prevention

In addition to advising all government departments on security, the Crime Prevention Bureau advises commercial enterprises, professional trade bodies and the public at large. The final stage of the Bureau´s move to the new Police Headquarters was completed in August with the opening of its new security equipment display facility. Constructed with the generous support of the Hong Kong security industry, the facility is available to the public, providing them with an opportunity to learn about the capability and suitability of products to fulfill their security needs.

Liaison

The year 2005 saw a further strengthening in ties between the Force and its strategic partners worldwide with new links established with the police of Cambodia and Kazakhstan. During the year, a Chief Inspector was for the first time posted to the Interpol´s office in Bangkok, Thailand in order to show our active support for international cooperation. Furthermore, Liaison Bureau organised the Law Enforcement Agencies Observer Scheme during the World Trade Organization Hong Kong Ministerial Conference (WTO HKMC) to share collective knowledge and experience on policing an international event of such magnitude among strategic partners of the Force.

Forensic Support

The Identification Bureau is part of the Crime Wing Support Group and is responsible for a wide range of fingerprint, DNA evidence and photograph-related duties. In 2005, the Bureau established the criminal history of 64 164 individuals and linked 1 412 persons to 1 301 cases.

In support of the appeal from Interpol following the tsunami tragedy in Phuket, Thailand, Identification Bureau sent two fingerprint experts in early 2005 to assist in the identification of victims including missing Hong Kong citizens.

Among the major events of the Bureau in the year was the preparation and co-organising of the 17th Meeting of International Association of Forensic Science (IAFS), together with the Government Laboratory, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This was a premier event for the forensic community, attracting more than 1 200 professional forensic practitioners from 57 countries. It had an added meaning for Hong Kong, since this was the first time the IAFS Meeting was held in China and the second time in Asia.

In February, the Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau was successfully granted a renewal of accreditation by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board for another five years, thereby ensuring that the forensic service the Force provides continues to be quality assured.

Criminal Records

The Criminal Records Bureau continues to provide round the clock supportive services to front-line Police officers and other government departments with updated information readily available on the “Enhanced Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System” (EPONICS). In April, a project was launched to replace the EPONICS to improve operational efficiency, to allow more efficient interfacing with other systems and to aim at automated processing of arrest documentation and digitalisation of photographs.

Child Abuse and Domestic Violence

In response to the increasing prevalence of the problem of domestic violence, the changing expectations of the society and subsequent amendments to the legal framework, the operational procedures for handling domestic violence have taken on a multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral approach. A Central Domestic Violence Database, which records all cases of domestic violence, was introduced in March to provide front-line officers with timely information. Since domestic violence is a multi-dimensional problem, the Force also sought improvements to the working level communications with the Social Welfare Department and NGOs by setting up a new Acknowledgement System and fourteen District Liaison Groups.

The Force places a strong emphasis on training in respect of the handling of cases of child abuse and domestic violence, focusing not only on the operational and procedural aspects of domestic violence incidents but also on the need for sensitivity in regard to the victim´s psychology and dilemma, and on empathy and conflict management.

Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support System (MIIDSS)

MIIDSS was utilised in the establishment of a Police Enquiry Unit to assist the Police Command and Control Centres at the Regional and Police Headquarters to collate and manage massive information generated during the WTO HKMC. Following on the successful application of MIIDSS during the outbreak of SARS and the tsunami disaster, MIIDSS was also involved in a consultancy study commissioned by the Department of Health and the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau after the establishment of a “Communicable Disease Information System” (CDIS).

Witness Protection Unit

Apart from being deployed on a series of protective operations as its core duty, the Unit also assisted a large number of organisations in witness protection-related training throughout the year. Amongst the trainees for the two Basic Training Courses organised during the year were a number of Customs and Excise officers who would form a Working Group for the setting up of the Customs and Excise Department´s own Witness Protection Unit.

Police Tactical Unit

In 2005, Police Tactical Unit (PTU) officers continued to play a vital role in the safe conduct of a number of major public events that included the 8th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR, the public procession on July 1 and a number of marches. PTU training staff trained over 5 000 officers for duties at the WTO HKMC as well as delivered briefings and awareness training to a number of other government departments. They formed the core of the Tactics and Training Working Group for the event and were pivotal in distributing the protective equipment and ammunition to those frontline units involved in the operation.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau

The Bureau is responsible for all bomb disposal work in the HKSAR including criminal and terrorist incidents, both on dry land and underwater. The wide range of specialist areas dealt with by the Bureau, including counter terrorist response, requires a heavy emphasis on training and maintaining of international contacts. During the year, exchanges took place with similar units in the UK, the USA and Australia. Regular contact was also maintained with the network of Bomb Data Centres around the world and Hong Kong remained at the forefront of the international development of tactics to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks.

Counter Terrorism

The Force maintained measures to ensure Hong Kong´s security against terrorism during 2005. In the first year after the port of Hong Kong became fully compliant with the security requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, and collaborating with the Security Bureau, Marine Department and other government departments and private sector interests, the Force conducted a major maritime security exercise code named DASHRUNNER in July.

Frequent operations to test security at Hong Kong International Airport were conducted with regular security reviews coordinated with all representatives of the airport community. Also in November, a major counter terrorism and disaster recovery exercise, code named HEADDIVER, was conducted in connection with preparations for the WTO HKMC.

Illegal Immigration

There has been an overall downward trend since 1994 for illegal immigration from the Mainland. During 2005, 2 191 illegal immigrants were arrested by Police, an average of six per day, representing a decrease of 24 per cent as compared to 2004. Close liaison in the form of regular meetings and exchange of intelligence was maintained with the Guangdong Border Defence Bureau. Entire sections of the border fence are now monitored round-the-clock by advanced technical equipment to intercept illegal immigrants.

Force Search Unit and Police Dog Unit

The Force Search Unit is responsible for developing professional search capabilities, for example at crime scenes and to ensure the security of venues visited by important guests. In 2005, the Unit aided by the Police Dog Unit´s “sniffer” dogs, successfully conducted search operations for major events including the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, the Opening of Hong Kong Disneyland and the WTO HKMC.

Licensing

During 2005, the Police began to issue arms licences to civilian hunters holding valid special permits issued by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, to hunt wild pigs. The Police Licensing Office also continued to act as the executive arm of the Liquor Licensing Board. Some 3 300 referrals of applications for liquor licences and 23 new applications for Massage Establishment Licences were processed. In addition, 2005 saw an accumulated record of 20 000 registered societies.

Occupational Safety and Health

An Occupational Safety and Health Force Safety Management System, designed to comply with the legal requirements of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, was introduced to the Force in 2004, underlining our commitment to caring for our officers. During 2005, over 400 Superintendents and above received risk management training, whilst predictive risk assessment and retrospective accident and incident investigation training was delivered to over 1 000 Inspectorate officers and their civilian equivalents.

Public Relations

The Police Public Relations Branch (PPRB) plays a vital role in informing the public about the work of the Police in order to project a positive image of the Force and enlisting public support in the maintenance of law and order via a proactive community relations programme.

Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force

The 3 900 members of the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force (HKAPF) continued to provide strong support to their regular counterparts during the festive periods, at public meetings, and during other major crowd management events. They also performed beat patrol duties during the WTO HKMC, thereby ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of Police services to the community at large.