Safe city: Senior Assistant Commissioners of Police Peter Yam and Richard Tang say the law and order situation in the first six months remained stable.

Overall crime fell 7.5% in the first six months of the year, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Richard Tang says, with 40,605 cases recorded, compared with 43,894 cases in the first half of last year.

There were 6,618 violent crimes, down 7.8%. Other serious crimes also decreased, such as homicide (-17.9%), robbery (-18.3%), burglary (-14.9%), and wounding and serious assault (-6%).

Mr Tang said Police achieved good results in the fight against violent crime, triads and psychotropic drug trafficking. Police successfully mounted a series of operations, seizing six firearms, arresting nine people and neutralising three crime syndicates.

Successful crackdowns on thugs and drugs

Mr Tang said Police have been mounting strategic operations against triads, successfully cracking down on their finance sources, and arresting 546 people, including key syndicate members, while restraining $47 million in gang assets.

He said Police have stepped up enforcement efforts against psychotropic drug abuse by youngsters.

Some 310 youths were arrested for serious narcotics offences, up 32.5% compared with the corresponding period last year. Some 90% of those were involved in the abuse of psychotropic drugs.

3-level strategy against Mainland criminals

On tackling Mainland visitors involved in illegal activity, Senior Assistant Commissioner Peter Yam said a three-level strategy has been implemented by an inter-departmental task force.

It will impose an effective and stringent application process on two-way permit and Mainland passport holders, perform effective screening at all immigration control points and enhance local enforcement.

Out of some 5.6 million arrivals in the first half of the year, 1,106 Mainland visitors were arrested. Under the Individual Visitors Scheme, some 1.6 million Mainlanders came to Hong Kong and only 128 were arrested for crime, representing a very small percentage.

Country park patrols stepped up

Noting an increase in country park robberies, Mr Yam said Police have taken positive and proactive action to prevent them.

There were 13 cases of robbery at country parks in the first six months, with two illegal immigrants and one Mainland visitor arrested for five cases. 

He said commensurate with the perceived crime trend and identified blackspots, Police will step up patrols in country parks and remote areas frequented by hikers.

Police Tactical Unit and Quick Reaction Force platoons will also conduct dedicated operations along with dog patrols.