[ Foreword ] [ Memorable Events ] [ The Hand of Partnership ] [ Operations ] [ Regional Commanders' Report ] [ Personnel and Training ]
[ Management Services ]
[ Finance, Administration and Planning ] [ Environmental Report ] [ Organisation ]
[ Appendices ]
> Integrity and honesty
> Respect for the rights of members of the public and of the Force
> Fairness, impartiality and compassion in all our dealings
> Acceptance of responsibility and accountability
> Professionalism
> Dedication to quality service and continuous improvement
> Responsiveness to change
> Effective communication both within and outwith the Force
With the Force’s notable successes on multiple fronts in 2018, this review highlights the endeavours and achievements by different major police formations during the year, illustrating how the men and women of the Force have contributed to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.
Maintaining law and order is always our top priority. Our efforts in this regard were again productive as the crime situation continued to improve in 2018. The overall numbers of crimes and violent crimes were the lowest since 1974 and 1971 respectively. The total number of crimes dropped 3.2 per cent from 56,017 cases in 2017 to 54,225 cases in 2018 while violent crimes decreased by 2.2 per cent from 9,086 cases in 2017 to 8,884 cases in 2018. For every 100,000 people, 728 crimes were recorded in 2018, of which 119 were violent crimes, compared with 758 crimes and 123 violent crimes respectively in 2017. Indeed, these figures were lower than those of many other major cities around the world.
It is also our primary responsibility to protect life and property. To this end, our officers have shown remarkable courage in carrying out their duties no matter how adverse or undesirable the conditions are. In September 2018, our officers conducted numerous rescue operations when super typhoon Mangkhut battered Hong Kong. Some officers even ventured out to sea to save lives whilst typhoon Signal No. 10 was hoisted. Moreover, in early 2018 our officers rendered safe three highly unstable and dangerous unexploded World War II aircraft bombs, each weighing over 1,000 pounds, at a large construction site in Wan Chai. These daunting missions would not have been accomplished without our officers’ tenacity and professionalism.
The Force is dedicated to serving and engaging the community in order to foster a better understanding from the public and garner their support. Our efforts are favourably reflected in the results of the Police Service Satisfaction Survey and the Public Opinion Survey 2018, both conducted by the University of Hong Kong’s Public Opinion Programme, in which the Force’s ratings hit record highs in various areas. For instance, 84 per cent of the respondents indicated that they were 'Satisfied’ with the overall performance of the Force, with nearly half of them indicating that they were 'Very Satisfied’. Nearly 80 per cent of the respondents expressed that they had confidence in the Force, representing a significant increase of 17 per cent from the same survey in 2015. Officers who have once served or are still serving in the Force should be justifiably proud of these remarkable achievements. With such a high level of trust in the Force from the community, we can certainly discharge our duties more effectively and efficiently than ever.
We have never been complacent with our past success, and continually strive to meet new challenges in order to cope with the ever-changing needs of our society. On the management side, the Environmental Scan Report was completed in early 2018 and it became a foundation for discussions at various levels during our strategic planning process. As a result, the Strategic Directions 2019-2021 were successfully formulated, clearly setting out the way forward for the Force in the coming years.
On the operational front, in order to rise to challenges arising from technology crimes, a brand new Cyber Range was officially launched in December 2018. This facility is the first of its kind for law enforcement agencies in Southeast Asia, which not only enhances the Force’s capabilities to address cyber security issues, but also equips officers with the necessary skills to tackle technology crimes. Furthermore, in response to the evolving global terrorism trends, the Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit (ICTU), comprising members of the Force and five other disciplined services, was established under the co-ordination of the Security Bureau in April. The ICTU synergises different departments’ efforts in the field of counter-terrorism and enhances Hong Kong’s overall capacity to combat terrorism.
Moreover, the Force has played an integral part in a variety of projects that will benefit the long-term development of Hong Kong. These include the implementation of the co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, and the commissioning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Central-Wan Chai Bypass. The Force is committed to providing support for any infrastructure projects which will improve people’s livelihoods and promote the economic development of Hong Kong.
In 2018, the Force contributed enormously to building a safer, more stable and harmonious society. Apart from strengthening our capabilities, the Force has introduced different innovative changes so as to strive for continuous improvement. Our performance has been widely applauded by the public and this makes me immensely proud of our achievements. For this, I wish to express my utmost gratitude for the efforts made by every member of the Force over the past year.
Looking ahead, the Force will continue to uphold our finest and longstanding traditions, and sustain our efforts to serve the community and safeguard Hong Kong.
Commissioner Lo Wai-chung
Force senior officers
Commissioner Lo Wai-chung (centre) reviews the crime situation in 2018 at a press conference.
Commissioner Lo Wai-chung visits the officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal who have helped dismantle a war-time bomb from a construction site in Wan Chai.
Commissioner Lo Wai-chung meets with student reporters.
Commissioner Lo Wai-chung (centre) officiates at the opening of Cyber Range.
Commissioner Lo Wai-chung (third left) officiates at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port Police Base.
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