DUE to the advancement of technology and the complex nature of computer crime, the Computer Crime Section (CCS) under the Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) was established in 1993 to combat its rise. The section, led by a chief inspector, is comprised of three teams whose prime duty is to investigate offences created under the Computer Crime ordinance. Each team is headed by an inspectorate officer who is assisted by a sergeant and constables.

The section is also responsible for the examination of computer-based evidence which provides key exhibits in criminal investigations to prove guilt of an offence. At present, the section's customers include various Force units as well as other Government departments.

Said Acting Superintendent Kevin Li Chiu-yin of Division A of CCB: "The section has effectively applied the existing laws of Hong Kong to prosecute such computer-related crimes as hacking, criminal damage to a computer system and, increasingly, criminal activities committed through the Internet."

In the past four years, the CCS has dealt with a number of hacking cases and successfully prosecuted two. "These relatively low figures belie the high instances of the crime," explains Ag SP Li. "Skilful computer criminals hack into computer systems, then read and steal confidential information on it. If they do not damage the system, legitimate operators may never realise the system has been violated. Or if they do, they frequently put it down to a system malfunction, in which case the crime is never reported."

The upsurge in computer crime has led to the need for a central Force advisory unit - which the Computer Crime Section has assumed, giving consultative assistance to all police units in the handling of computer-related crime and computer-based evidence.

"We are happy to provide advice and technical support to colleagues when they seek it, as many officers are understandably unclear on what laws are applicable to certain Internet offences," said Ag SP Li. "For example, the publication of obscene articles via the Internet and on-line computer shopping fraud, have been defined as cases of vice and deception respectively. Further, before any legal action can be taken in Hong Kong over a case involving the publication of obscene articles on the Internet, we have to prove that the articles were released from a Hong Kong web page."

The Computer Crime Section has recently produced a booklet entitled "Action at the Scene of the Crime Involving a Computer", with similar publications to follow on other areas of computer-related crime and evidence collection.

"Another instance of a computer crime on the increase occurs when disgruntled employees take revenge by purposely erasing valuable information on a company's or an institution's computer system," said Detective Senior Inspector Collins Leung Tak-kwong, who has worked in the section for three years. "Often in such cases, circumstantial and technical evidence within the computer system itself is the key to finding the culprit."

The number of cases involving people compromising passwords used by commercial companies to activate their Private Automatic Branch exchange (PABX) telephone system and illegally use the IDD function to make free long distance calls is also on the rise.

Said Detective Senior Inspector Leonard Ma Hok-hon: "To keep up with advances on the information highway and world-wide trends in computer crime, officers of the section must keep abreast of the latest technological developments, conduct extensive research to fine tune their investigative and computer examination skills, and regularly undergo training that includes courses organised by local and overseas institutions."

The Computer Crime Section is now in the process of recruiting JPOs who are enthusiastic and excited about new and evolving computer technology and feel challenged by the idea of combating high-tech crime. Although preference will be given to those with previous exposure to computer technology and crime investigation, it is not essential. On the job training will be provided to successful candidates.

A pre-recruitment seminar will be held for officers interested in the section's challenging work in March this year. For more details contact DSIP Leonard Ma: 2860-4801; or Sergeant Lee Kai-hung: 2860-2307.