Fight youth crime competition launched (with photo)
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      The 'Hang Seng Bank - Help the Police Fight Youth Crime Competition 2008', which aims to raise awareness of juvenile crimes among young people, schools and social service agencies and encourage them to help Police fight youth crime, was launched today (March 17). 

      The Commissioner of Police, Mr Tang King-shing, said at the launching ceremony that while the overall crime situation in Hong Kong remained stable last year, the number of young people arrested for serious narcotics offences increased.  Among the arrestees, more than 90 per cent were involved with psychotropic drugs, a situation which required close attention.

      Mr Tang pointed out that Police would work closely with the inter-departmental task force led by the Secretary for Justice and step up cooperation between Government departments in preventing and combating psychotropic drug abuse among young people.  Community support would also be enlisted to make Hong Kong a safe, healthy and ideal growing environment for young people.

       "We hope that through disseminating anti-drug messages in the competition, the public, in particular the young people, will understand more about the consequences of drug abuse on society, families, friends and themselves, thereby making a more conscious effort to help Police fight crime," Mr Tang added. 

      Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, Mr Raymond Or, and member of the Fight Crime Committee, Ms Sylvia Yau, also officiated at today's ceremony.

      Mr Or said: "Hang Seng is pleased to be sponsoring this competition for the eighth consecutive time. The Competition attracted a total of about 500,000 participants since 1994.  As a committed corporate citizen, the Bank makes extensive efforts to enhance the well-being of society.  We hope this event will encourage young people to adopt a healthy and positive lifestyle and help prepare them to become responsible adults."

      Ms Yau said: "This competition provides a good platform for us to disseminate anti-crime and anti-drug messages to young people."

      The biennial competition has been organised by the Police since 1975, and has been sponsored by Hang Seng Bank since 1994.  The theme of this year is 'Combating Psychotropic Drug Abuse Among Young People', with the aim to educate young people on the consequences of drug abuse. 

      Participants will be evaluated through a combination of web games, essay writing, tests in leadership skills and project presentations.

      The competition is open to students in the categories of Primary Group (Primary 4-6), Junior Group (Form 1-3), Senior Group (Form 4-7) and Post Secondary Group, as well as young people from the newly added youth service agency category.  Winners will be awarded scholarships and have the opportunity to represent Hong Kong as fight crime ambassadors in an exchange tour to Australia in July.

      Entry forms are available at Police Public Relations Branch, Police Community Relations Offices, Junior Police Call clubs, District Offices and Hang Seng Bank branches (excluding outlets in MTR stations and the Lantau Airport Railway Station). The deadline for applications is April 19. 

      For enquiries, please contact the Police Public Relations Branch on 2860 6143 or visit the competition website at http://www.hkpjpc.org.hk/fightcrime.

Police Report No. 3

Ends/Monday, March 17, 2008