Commissioner Chow Yat-ming reviewed the overall law and order of Hong Kong in 2025 and outlined the work focuses of the Force in 2026 at a press conference on February 11. Deputy Commissioner (DCP) (Operations) Yip Wan-lung, DCP (National Security) Kan Kai-yan and DCP (Management) Chan Joon-sun also attended.

Overall situation

A total of 89 137 crimes were recorded in 2025, representing a decrease of 5.9% (-5 610 cases) compared with 2024. The number of violent crimes dropped by 15.9% (-1 662 cases) to 8 823 cases.

The vast majority of major crimes recorded decreases. Deception also registered a slight decrease (-2.9%).

Crimes that recorded increases included homicide, serious drug offences and missing motor vehicles.

Deception

Although the number of deception cases remained high in 2025, totalling 43 212 cases, the figure represented a slight decrease of 2.9% (-1 268 cases) compared with 2024. Monetary losses also decreased, dropping from approximately $9.2 billion to about $8.1 billion, a decline of 11.3% (-$1.03 billion).

Deception cases accounted for nearly half of all reported crimes (48.5%). Among the various categories, e-shopping fraud (12 505 cases, +946 cases, +8.2%) was the most prevalent, accounting for 28.9%. E-shopping fraud related to concert tickets increased significantly following the opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park. A total of 2 805 cases were recorded last year, representing a year-on-year increase of 61.8% (+1 071 cases).

Online investment fraud accounted for the highest monetary loss, with 5 135 cases recorded, registering an increase of 30.7% (+1 205 cases). The total loss amount involved reached $3.58 billion, representing a rise of 58.4% (+$1.32 billion). While accounting for 11.9% of all deception cases, online investment fraud constituted 44.1% of the total monetary loss, with the average loss per case rising from about $580 000 in 2024 to about $700 000 in 2025.

There were 4 095 cases of online employment fraud, an increase of 6.3% (+242 cases). Most of these were “click farming” scams (96.5%). In contrast, telephone deception recorded 8 621 cases, a decrease of 6.3% (-583 cases). This decline included a 20.4% drop in telephone deception cases involving “impersonating customer service” which accounted for 4 440 cases (-1 135 cases). Phishing scams and “compensated dating scams” recorded 1 093 cases (-1 638 cases) and 1 122 cases (-907 cases) respectively, registering a 60% and 44.7% drop.

Fraudulent activities have become highly industrialised, characterised by a sophisticated division of labour and a cross-border nature. To combat these scams, both local measures and cross-border collaboration are indispensable. Accordingly, Police have formulated four major strategic directions, namely combatting fraud industry chains, targeted publicity, promoting the use of “Scameter+”, and international collaboration.

Homicide

There were 194 cases of homicide, including the 168 deaths caused by the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which was classified as manslaughter. Police have so far arrested 16 persons for manslaughter in connection with the fire.

Of the remaining 26 cases, 16 (61.5%) involved domestic or family violence, compared with 10 such cases in 2024. Among all cases, only one case remained undetected.

Wounding and serious assault

There were 3 363 cases of wounding and serious assault, representing a decrease of 6.9% (-251 cases). Of these, 8.3% were triad-related. Police paid particular attention to cases involving triads and Non-ethnic Chinese persons, which decreased by 10.3% and 9% respectively.

Robbery

There were 66 robbery cases, a decrease of 26.7% (-24 cases). This marked the lowest figure since records began in 1969, averaging one case every 5.5 days. The detection rate reached a high of 90.9%.

During the period, there were no robberies involving genuine firearms or stun guns. One bank robbery and two robberies involving large amounts of cash were all detected within a short period.

In November 2025, acting on intelligence, Police laid an ambush in Hung Hom and arrested eight suspects attempting to rob the victims of 38 kg of gold dust with beef knives.

Burglary

A total of 816 burglary cases were recorded, representing a decrease of 33.1% (-404 cases). This was also a new historical low since 1969.

In 2025, Police began deploying drones for anti-burglary operations on high-risk days during long holidays. Consequently, burglary figures during the Easter and summer holidays dropped by 50% and 30.2% respectively. During the recent Christmas period, there was a 23.9% decrease in cases. 

Theft

A total of 20 032 theft cases were recorded, representing a decline of 10.7% (-2 401 cases). Most categories recorded decreases, including miscellaneous theft (-9.7%) and shop theft (-9.6%), while pickpocketing saw a significant drop of 56.3%. Notably, the figures for snatching (-23.4%) and theft from vehicles (-17.2%) reached their lowest levels since records began in 1969 and 1977 respectively.

Missing motor vehicles, however, recorded an increase. A total of 440 vehicles were involved, registering an increase of 51 vehicles (+13.1%). Half of these cases (220 vehicles) occurred in New Territories North (NTN). Private cars and motorcycles accounted for over 80% (81.6%) of the total. Among the 440 missing motor vehicles, 24.1% were unauthorised use of vehicles; 10.5% were taken for driving without a driving licence; and another 11.1% were used for committing crimes. Overall, 60.2% of the missing motor vehicles were recovered.

Police arrested 44 persons and recovered 28 missing motor vehicles last year. Since July 2025, Police have also deployed drones to conduct aerial patrols at black spots for vehicle theft in NTN. Following months of enforcement actions, the increase in missing motor vehicle figures slowed from a 53.5% increase in the first half of 2025 to a 13.1% increase for the whole year.

Blackmail

A total of 1 674 blackmail cases were recorded, representing a decrease of 44.8% (-1 357 cases). Of these, 78.4% were related to “naked chat” (1 312 cases), representing a drop of 46.1% (-1 122 cases).

The proportion of students among victims rose from 18.7% in 2024 to 27.4%. In view of this, Police continued to enhance publicity and education efforts.

Sexual offences

There were 68 rape cases, a decrease of nine cases (-11.7%). The detection rate stood at 95.6%.

A total of 1 137 cases of indecent assault were recorded, representing a drop of 48 cases (-4.1%). The detection rate was 78.9%.

Serious drug offences

There were 1 281 serious drug cases, representing an increase of 15% (+167 cases). Cases involving etomidate accounted for 29.4% (376 cases).

Etomidate has become the most commonly abused drug overall and among youths. Since etomidate was listed as a dangerous drug in February 2025, Police recorded 911 cases involving etomidate by the end of the year, resulting in 1 134 arrests, including 205 youths.

By the end of 2025, sentences had been handed down in 47 etomidate cases. Of these, 41 were cases of “possession of a dangerous drug”, with a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment, while the remaining six were cases of “trafficking in a dangerous drug”, resulting in imprisonment terms of up to 24 months.

In August 2025, Police launched a 24-hour etomidate reporting hotline (6629 2966) as well as WhatsApp and WeChat accounts, which received 54 reports by the end of the year. The Government has also included etomidate in the “Healthy School Programme” for the 2025/26 school year. Believing that prevention is better than cure, Police will continue efforts in anti-drug education.

Triad-related crimes

A total of 1 944 triad-related crimes were recorded, representing a decrease of 16.4% (-381 cases).

In 2025, Police conducted the annual “THUNDERBOLT” operation in collaboration with the police authorities of Guangdong and Macao. A total of 4 140 persons were arrested in Hong Kong, with the seizure of cash and drugs worth approximately $550 million.

Separately, Police conducted an enforcement operation in July 2025, arresting 82 members of a triad syndicate. During the operation, over $8 million in cash was seized, and illicit funds amounting to $1.13 billion were frozen. Subsequently, in August, Police dismantled the syndicate's organised cross-border prostitution operation and arrested 67 persons, including over 40 sex workers from various places. Police operations are ongoing.

Youth crime

In 2025, a total of 2 662 youths were arrested for criminal offences, representing a decrease of 6.3% (-178 persons). This marked the lowest figure on record since 1990.

Relevant situation of national security

Since the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance came into force, the National Security Department of Police had arrested a total of 385 persons as at the end of 2025. More than half of them had been charged.

Conclusion

In 2025, the overall crime figure registered a drop (-5.9%). The vast majority of major crimes recorded decreases; in particular, the figures for robbery (-26.7%) and burglary (-33.1%) were the lowest on record.

Following the implementation of the SmartView project, the detection rates for various street crimes rose by 2.5 to 22.8 percentage points, while crime figures dropped by 3.1% to 71.8%.

Commissioner's Operational Priorities 2026

The Commissioner’s Operational Priorities 2026 are a continuation of the priority areas identified last year, with the addition of a new priority to underscore the importance attached to planning and executing the policing of major international events:

• Safeguarding national security;

• Combatting violent crime;

• Combatting triads, syndicated and organised crime;

• Combatting dangerous drugs;

• Combatting deception and quick cash crime;

• Enhancing cyber security and combatting technology crime;

• Enhancing public safety;

• Enhancing counter-terrorism; and

• Organising and policing of significant international events.