The overall law and order situation in Hong Kong remained stable in 2008 with a drop of 2.9 per cent in the overall crime, said Commissioner Tang King-shing when he reviewed last year's crime situation at a news conference on January 21.

A total of 14,429 cases of violent crime were recorded in 2008, a drop of 3.4 per cent compared with the 14,934 cases in 2007.

Mr Tang noted that whilst the majority of crimes recorded a fall, shop theft was up 7.5 per cent, burglary up 5.8 per cent, serious narcotics offences up 7.1 per cent, and triad-related crimes up 5.2 per cent.

"During the year, there were a total of 2,966 serious narcotics offences, of which, 2,531 cases involved psychotropic drugs, making up 85.4 per cent of the overall serious narcotics offences. When compared with 2007, these types of cases recorded an increase of 394 cases, a rise of 18.4 per cent, which is the major factor attributed to the increase of the overall serious narcotics offences.

"Among the psychotropic drug cases, those involving ketamine recorded the largest increase, from 975 cases in 2007 to 1,555 cases in 2008, a rise of 580 cases or 59.5 per cent.

"A total of 3,718 persons were arrested for serious narcotics offences, with 3,235 persons for psychotropic drugs, making up 87 per cent of the overall number of persons arrested for serious narcotics offences.

"Among those arrested, 1,153 were youths, accounting for 31 per cent of the total number of arrested persons, a rise of 231 persons or 25.1 per cent compared with the 922 persons in 2007," he added.

Mr Tang continued: "The Force has implemented comprehensive strategies for combatting drug trafficking. We will continue to work closely with anti-drug agencies on the Mainland and overseas to tackle transnational drug traffickers and intercept drugs at their origins, so as to widen the anti-drug protective shield.

"We will also strengthen interception at boundary-crossing points. In 2008, 70 Hong Kong people were arrested for cross-boundary drug trafficking, with a total of 35 kilogrammes of various types of drug seized. Where appropriate, we will apply to the Court for enhanced sentences against drug traffickers who smuggle drugs into the territory or exploit young people for drug trafficking."

CP went on to say that 2,376 cases of triad-related crimes were recorded in 2008, representing a rise of 117 cases, an increase of 5.2 per cent over 2007.

He pointed out that triad-related crimes made up three per cent of the overall crime figure, more or less the same as the average in the past 10 years.

Addressing concerns about increase in triad-related crimes, Mr Tang said combatting triad activities remained one of his operational priorities, and triad influence on youths was of particular concern.

"We will strengthen our criminal intelligence network, take prompt and professional action in response to intelligence and reports of triad-related activity and crime, target triad personalities and activities, mount strategic undercover operations and interdict triad sources of income in order to stem their activities," he noted.

Mr Tang further pointed out that other crimes also recorded a substantial fall, such as miscellaneous theft (down 6.6 per cent), theft from vehicle (down 14.3 per cent), pick-pocketing (down 21.5 per cent), and wounding/serious assault (down 2.4 per cent).

CP also spoke of homicide, domestic violence and juvenile crime. A total of 36 homicides were reported in 2008, an increase of 18 cases compared with 2007. Thirty-two cases were detected, representing a detection rate of 88.9 per cent.

"Notwithstanding the two-fold increase in homicide cases, the number of cases recorded in 2007 is in fact the lowest in the last 30 years. In the past decade, 49 cases were recorded on average every year. Last year's figure of 36 cases is in fact lower than the average figure for the past decade," Mr Tang said.

"Homicide is a serious offence and it is always one of our biggest concerns. To combat offences of this type, the Police have tried to achieve deterrence by means of multi-directional investigating techniques backed up by unrelenting efforts. Against such a background, the Police have all along invested a considerable amount of resources to enhance detection," he stressed.

Mr Tang also reported a drop in the overall number of domestic violence cases. A total of 7,278 cases were recorded in 2008, a decrease of 231 cases compared with the 7,509 cases in 2007. Among the 2008 cases, 2,341 were criminal domestic violence cases, a drop of 164 cases compared with 2007. As regards cases of a non-criminal nature, 4,937 were noted, a decrease of 67 cases compared with 2007.

Turning to juvenile crime, Mr Tang said 4,178 juveniles (aged 10 to 15) and 4,830 young persons (aged 16 to 20) were arrested for crimes in 2008. However, it was worth noting that the total number juveniles and young persons arrested for crimes - at 9,008 - was a drop of 659 (6.8 per cent) compared with 2007.

"The crimes committed by them were predominantly miscellaneous theft, shop theft, woundings, assaults and serious narcotics offences," he added.

Introducing his operational priorities for 2009, Mr Tang said that in addition to the seven priorities adopted in 2008, the Commissioner's Operational Priorities for 2009 also included an eighth priority to highlight the importance of effective policing of the 2009 East Asian Games.

"The Police will ensure appropriate security measures are in place for the Games to be held in a safe and secure environment for all participants. We will effectively deploy resources to manage the Games whilst continuing to provide day-to-day police services to the public," he added.

Addressing concerns of the financial tsunami's impact on the overall crime rate, Mr Tang said that as the financial crisis was at its early stage, the extent of the impact had yet to be ascertained.

"We would closely monitor the effect of the financial tsunami on the local law and order situation and would promptly deploy police resources to deal with any specific problems," he stressed.

Also attending the news conference were Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Yam Tat-wing and Deputy Commissioner (Management) Tsang Wai-hung.