[ Foreword ] [ Memorable Events ] [ Force Family ] [ Operations ] [ Regional Commanders' Report ] [ National Security ] [ Personnel and Training ]
[ Management Services ]
[ Finance, Administration and Planning ] [ Environmental Report ] [ Organisation ]
[ Appendices ]
Officers of Yau Tsim District assisted ethnic minority residents stranded in the ir home countries to return to Hong Kong.
The Regions devote themselves to upholding the rule of law, maintaining law and order, and serving Hong Kong with honour, duty and loyalty. They fight crime in ways that often involve engagement with different sectors of the community or multi-agency partnerships. Publicity and educational activities are held to enhance public awareness of crime prevention and road safety. In 2020, the Regions also supported the Government to tackle COVID-19.During the year, the overall crime rate of Hong Kong Island Region dropped by 12.1 per cent compared with last year. Violent protests from 2019 continued sporadically into the first half of 2020, posing a threat to public safety and order. With the introduction of the National Security Law, the police were empowered to take proactive measures to prevent violent incidents, and these measures quickly helped to restore public order. As a result, crimes related to violent protests dropped more than half compared with last year.
The Region promotes the innovative application of technology to enhance the effectiveness of policing. In January, Traffic Hong Kong Island launched a Traffic Complaint e-Platform to encourage the public to report moving traffic offences. The new e-Platform received a third of the traffic complaints in 2020 and recorded a much higher rate of successful prosecution, of 58 per cent, compared with traditional reporting channels. A regional cadre established in December 2019 made use of an unmanned aircraft system to support the policing of public order events, crowd management, and operations against burglaries and illegal immigrants. By the end of 2020, the cadre had been mobilised on more than 50 occasions.
As Hong Kong gradually restored peace and calm, the Region launched a number of projects to enhance community engagement. The Regional Crime Prevention Office introduced Project ISLAND LINK in May to set up a crime prevention network with shop owners and tenants on Hong Kong Island to exchange news and crime information.
The Central District Little Apprentices Scheme aimed to enhance the bond between the Police and schools in Central District through interactive activities, such as anti-crime school talks, sports events and visits to police premises. Wan Chai District worked on multicultural integration by arranging activities as part of Project MORRISON, including arts, sports and cookery workshops, for non-ethnic Chinese youths to broaden their social circle and experience local culture.
Eastern District launched Project TICK-TICK in October, engaging with young delinquents through experience sharing and campaigns to increase their social awareness and self-confidence. In November, Western District produced a short anti-bullying film called ‘Bystander’ to enhance youth awareness of abiding by the law.
Traffic Hong Kong Island launched a Traffic Complaint e-Platform in January.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpodvVpC9XE&feature=youtu.be
Western District produced a short anti-bullying film called ‘Bystander ’.
The Marine Police maintain the integrity of the 191 kilometre sea boundary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and guard the 1,648 square kilometres of water and 261 islands under its purview.
Proactive enforcement during the year saw the arrest of 28 per cent more illegal immigrants at sea compared with 2019. The Region also arrested 144 per cent more persons involved in smuggling and seized goods valued at over $438 million, a year-on-year increase of more than 450 per cent.
The maritime environment is changing, and the Region is equipping itself with the latest craft to counter ongoing and future challenges. Two hovercraft entered service in 2020 and were later complemented by the more recent arrival of eight Multi Mission Interceptors, which are for the use of the Region’s Small Boat Division.
The Region focuses on adopting advanced technology to ensure efficiency. Coastal monitoring systems are being upgraded to facilitate a faster and more effective deployment of policing resources to assist the public and enhance maritime safety and security. Unmanned aircraft systems are undergoing operational trials to improve the Region’s search-and-rescue capabilities.
At the community level, the Region engages with key stakeholders, such as District Councillors, Kaifong Associations and Rural Committees via traditional activities, and rolled out a new e-animation on crime prevention in the year.
During the pandemic, the Region conveyed more than 90 COVID-19 patients and their close contacts from island communities to health-care facilities for medical treatment or quarantine, thereby helping to sever chains of infection and protecting the islands population.
The Marine Region spared no effort in maintaining safety and law and order within Hong Kong waters.
A fire broke out on a fishing vessel off Tsing Chau Wan on August 26. Marine officers equipped with fire-resistant protective suits and breathing apparatus fought the blaze.
The Region recorded a 20 per cent year-on-year increase in the overall number of crimes compared with 2019. As the social unrest subsided in the second half of 2020, the crime situation became more stable.
Deception cases in the Region doubled during the economic downturn and the pandemic, partly due to a prominent spike in online scams. The Region carries out Project ALLIANCE to strengthen collaboration with a wide range of community partners by engaging with banks, money service operators, NGOs, elderly groups, and the commercial and education sectors to combat deception and raise anti-scam awareness. As the Force’s co-ordinator in combating telephone deception, the Region engages with new target groups of stakeholders, such as by holding educational campaigns for overseas and Mainland students, and conducts intelligence gathering and proactive investigation.
The readiness and capability of the Region in dealing with public disorder of different magnitudes were enhanced at all levels. To heighten preparedness in tackling terrorist incidents, the Operations Wing of the Region launched ‘Smartpad’, an awareness enhancement programme that comprised training workshops, seminars and joint exercises, for security managers from 31 local shopping centres. The Railway Response Team of Railway District also conducted an inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise, IRONFAN, with the MTR Corporation to boost partnership with, and the responsiveness of, other key stakeholders in the railway system.
The Region adopts a multi-agency approach to uphold the Force’s Strategic Direction of ‘Policing with the community’, engage with community partners and enhance communication. Project HAPPY TEENS inspires young people to develop a positive mindset and build a stronger connection with the community through cultural, musical and sports events. ‘Shall We Listen’ seminars aim to provide teachers, parents, social workers and NGOs with a better understanding of police policies and procedures on handling juveniles. An e-sports competition incorporating education seminars, career advice and cybercrime trivia was organised to strengthen communication and build a sustainable relationship with youths. The event increased the youth participants’ competitiveness in seeking employment and strengthened their awareness of abiding by the law.
The Road Safety Council and Traffic Kowloon East held ‘Join Hands for Road Safety cum Sau Mau Ping Road Safety Town Open Day’, in which elderly residents were appointed as Road Safety Ambassadors to promote awareness of road safety to target groups of children and the elderly.
In November, the new Kowloon East Regional Headquarters Complex in Kai Tak was commissioned, enhancing the overall command and operational efficiency of the Region.
Kowloon East Region disseminated anti-deception messages to the community.
The Railway Response Team conducted counter-terrorism exercise.
The overall crime rate in Kowloon West Region increased slightly in 2020. Cases of violent crime remained at a stable level, while miscellaneous theft, theft from vehicles, pickpocketing and indecent assault decreased significantly.
Community partnership is one way of preventing and detecting crimes in the Region. Project VANGUARD, which strengthens the Force’s intelligence and communication networks, was further extended to the scaffolding business during the year.
Yau Tsim District actively supported the Government’s anti-pandemic work. The District assisted in communicating with ethnic minority residents stranded in India, Nepal and Pakistan to return to Hong Kong, disseminated details about the Government’s Cash Payout Scheme and Universal Community Testing Program to ethnic minorities and helped them register through the internet.
Project RING, organised by Mong Kok District, engages with the ethnic minority community so as to assist in social integration. The District deploys two female members, a Pakistani Constable and a Pakistani Police Community Liaison Assistant, to connect with mothers and children. It also provides various programmes, conducts frequent home visits and distributes Urdu newsletters to convey updated government announcements.
Project VIVE of Sham Shui Po District aims at inculcating positive values in JPC members by providing all-round exposure in community service and personal growth. Another initiative of the District, Project MAMA, facilitates the social integration of ethnic minority women and their family members, and disseminates the latest crime prevention and anti-pandemic messages.
Kowloon City District worked to establish closer ties with schools and enhance their understanding of police procedures by hosting meetings with the heads of principals’ associations from all 18 districts and with representatives of Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations. Project ORCHESTRA promotes awareness among youngsters of abiding by the law, and the importance of co-operation between residents and the Police in fighting crime.
Traffic Project ETERNITY was launched in August in Kowloon City District to collaborate with different sectors of the community to improve overall traffic conditions in the district.
The Road Safety Team of Traffic Kowloon West launched ‘Elderly Road Safety Mural’ and ‘3D Mural’ campaigns. In November, two murals were painted under the East Kowloon Corridor near Kowloon City Road, reminding passers-by of the importance of elderly road safety while raising the elderly’s awareness of crossing the road safely.
Yau Tsim District provided ethnic minorities with anti-pandemic messages.
Members of Junior Police Call volunteered in Project VIVE.
Two murals with road safety messages for elderly pedestrians were drawn on a pillar under the Kowloon City Road flyover near Sze Chuen Street.
In 2020, the Region recorded a 13.3 per cent increase in the number of reported crimes, related mainly to technology, and maintained a detection rate of 38.9 per cent. Reductions were seen in arson (down 43 per cent), burglary (down 38.2 per cent) and indecent assault (down 30.7 per cent).
During the year, the Region launched a number of projects for various sectors in the community to reinforce public confidence and understanding of police work. For instance, its Regional Crime Prevention Office collaborated with the Rehabilitation Unit of the Correctional Services Department and arranged an experiential programme for youth service professionals, including teachers and social workers, to better understand the whole criminal judicial process, thus facilitating the professionals’ provision of appropriate support for their service targets.
Kwai Tsing District communicated weekly with school principals and chairpersons of Parent-Teacher Associations on crime trends and anticrime information via WhatsApp under Project KWT TICK ALERT, and devised a storybook teaching kit on basic law-abiding concepts for kindergarten pupils.
The Road Safety Team in Traffic New Territories South made use of online tools to disseminate road safety messages to kindergartens and primary schools under Project rE-connect. Sha Tin District uploaded custommade anti-crime videos and road safety e-learning animation to school e-learning platforms and JPC YouTube channels to enhance students’ knowledge under Project CAMPUSCLICK. Tsuen Wan District portrayed a professional and positive image of the Force and strengthened engagement with schools and other stakeholders of the community via Project RESTORE.
In addition, the Region assisted the Government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, by guarding quarantine centres and community treatment facilities, tracing transmission sources, prosecuting offenders, executing quarantine orders and conducting compulsory tests at designated premises.
Throughout the year, the Region spared no effort to uphold the highest standards of performance in emergency response by undergoing training and exercises. These included the ‘Spearhead’ training programme by the Emergency Unit, the annual aircraft crash and rescue exercise and the counter-terrorism exercise ROARTIGER conducted at the airport with the vital participation of the Airport Security Unit and Police Tactical Unit, and an inter-departmental drill joined by Lantau District to test the emergency response to flooding in Tai O.
Participants of an experiential programme visited a detention room.
Lantau District provided round-the-clock security at quarantine centres and worked closely with other Government departments to tackle the pandemic.
In line with the citywide trend in 2020, New Territories North Region recorded an increase of 16.2 per cent in overall crime. The number of crimes related to public order dropped significantly by 75.5 per cent, but a remarkable upsurge was noted in violent crime, which increased by 15.7 per cent, and in triad-related crime, by 26.1 per cent. The number of youths arrested for criminal offences rose substantially in cases of robbery (up 414.3 per cent), arson (up 133.3 per cent), serious assault (up 76.6 per cent), deception (up 40.7 per cent) and drugs (up 24.1 per cent).
Officers in the Region remained fully committed to maintaining law and order. The Region adopted a multi-agency approach in various projects that aimed to rebuild trust between the Force and the community, in particular youths, to garner support for policing and to restore awareness of abiding by the law. Through collaborating with community partners, the Region organised sharing sessions with school representatives and youth engagement activities with different sectors. Project SMILES, held by Yuen Long District, engaged with more than half of primary schools in the district to participate in crime prevention webinars.
To support the fight against COVID-19, the Region takes concerted actions with other Government departments. It conducted testing and control operations and proactively took enforcement action under Cap.599, resulting in a number of arrests and issuances of more than 1,900 Fixed Penalty Notices at vulnerable premises, such as unlicensed bars.
Cargo clearance facilities of the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point began operation in August, strengthening logistical transport between Hong Kong, Shenzhen and eastern Guangdong.
In order to enhance operational preparedness in tackling major incidents and cases of terrorism, the Region also conducted an inter-departmental exercise, QUICKSKILL 2020, and a counter-terrorism exercise, codenamed STORMSHIELD III. The exercises effectively enhanced the interoperability and response capability between police units and other Government departments.
Project SMILES promoted crime prevention and awareness of abiding by the law to students through webinars.
New Territories North Region held an inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise, codenamed STORMSHIELD III, at the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point on May 15.
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