The growth in Hong Kong's exchanges with the Mainland and the large increase in the number of Mainlanders coming here will undoubtedly bring immense economic benefits, the Commissioner of Police says. But, he warns, the number of illegal activities involving these visitors is expected to show a corresponding increase.

Speaking at a lunch at the Foreign Correspondents' Club today, Tsang Yam-pui asked - and answered - two key questions: Are we seeing the anticipated deterioration in crime in Hong Kong since the 1997 handover? And are increases seen in certain types of crime a result of Hong Kong's integration with the Mainland? 

The answer to the first question was a resounding "no".

Post-handover, crime rates tumble

Comparing the general crime situation in the five years before, and then the five years after, the handover show that instead of a deterioration in Hong Kong's crime scene, there has been marked decrease in overall crime as well as almost all key crime.

Mr Tsang noted the following improvements comparing the five-years-before and five-years-after periods:

* overall crime down 13.9%;

* violent crime down 15.2%;

* rape down 10%;

* burglary down 30%;

* murder down 22.7%;

* robbery down 47.2%; and

* robbery with firearms down 57.9%.

The lastest six-month crime figures are also positive, he said, referring to figures released last week. "The media quite correctly put the focus on a rise in the variety of minor thefts and also crimes such as criminal damage and criminal intimidation," he said.

Number of serious, violent crimes slides

"What is vital in these statistics, but unfortunately not given any prominence in press coverage, is that we have continued to succeed in curbing the majority of priority, serious crimes. The number of homicides, kidnappings, rapes, indecent assaults, serious narcotics offences, missing vehicles and triad-related offences have all gone down."

He noted that there was not a single case of kidnapping so far this year, adding, "I touch wood when I say this."

The significant decrease in the number of robberies was particularly encouraging, he said. It dropped to a daily average of just eight cases, minor and serious robberies, "the lowest daily return recorded since 1970."

Mainland cooperation vital in curbing crime

A priority for the Police in recent years has been to combat serious and violent crimes, particularly those that involve the use of genuine firearms. "It is in this area that our close working relationship and exchange of intelligence with our Mainland counterparts has been particularly important and has resulted in our ability to curb such crime to a low level," Mr Tsang said.

In May and June, the force neutralised four armed-robbery syndicates, arresting 14 people, including six illegal immigrants and a two-way permit holder, and seizing six firearms. One of the syndicates is believed to have been responsible for 14 serious robberies, including one in Kwai Chung in March during which a security guard was murdered.

"Direct intelligence exchange with the Mainland allowed us to intercept these dangerous criminals," he said.

"In a policing context, the realities of working within very diverse legal, judicial and administrative frameworks prevent the Force here or the police on the Mainland from talking in terms of 'integration' between us as organisations."

However, he added, "within the context of the cross-boundary economic and social integration which is happening all around us, there has been tremendous scope, as well as already tangible progress in terms of liaison, cooperation and knowledge sharing with Mainland law enforcement."

Increase in Mainland visitors, rise in their arrests

Mr Tsang noted that an increase in the number of Mainland residents visiting Hong Kong in recent years has had a negative impact on crime trends and other social issues.

"The tremendous increase in the number of visitors from the Mainland, mostly traveling on Two Way Permit arrangements, has brought a corresponding increase in the number of persons from the Mainland being arrested for crime."

The rise in Two Way Permit visitors since 1997 has been particularly dramatic, he said. From 500,000 that year, it soared to 4.4 million in 2002. The number of Mainland visitors arrested for crime also increased in this period, from 749 to 1,860.

"In addition to crime, the issue of female Mainland visitors working as prostitutes in Hong Kong has also caused much public concern," Mr Tsang said. Other Mainlanders have been arrested in Hong Kong for illegal gambling, taking up of illegal employment, selling illicit cigarettes or pirated goods, begging, illegal hawking, or overstaying their permit deadline to give birth in Hong Kong, he added.

This trend prompted him to include action against crimes committed by Mainlanders as one of his six operational targets for this year.

New challenges, new solutions

Arrest and immediate repatriation alone cannot solve the problems, he said. But ever improving links and cooperation with the Mainland authorities is leading to clear successes and solutions.

"The Hong Kong Police Force will meet these challenges as they arise, in the same way as we have done so successfully in the past. I wish to assure you that we are fully prepared and equipped to maintain the stability and safety which the people of Hong Kong have come to expect of us."