The overall crime figure dropped 8.3% to 67,783 in the first 10 months, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee says.

Speaking after a Fight Crime Committee meeting today, Mr Lee said said the drop may be due to an improvement in the economy and Police detection rate. 

The number of violent crimes committed fell from 12,155 to 11,410. Among them, the number of bank robberies dropped substantially. However, there were increases in certain areas and the number of rapes rose from 58 to 77.

"But overall, the crime situation in Hong Kong is rather stable. Hong Kong remains one of the safest cities in the world," he stressed.

A total of 1,841 Mainland visitors were arrested for committing various crimes, an increase of 5.4% over the same period last year. But Mr Lee said the percentage was small compared with the huge number of arrivals this year.

Police to boost enforcement, publicity of drug-related crimes

On drug seizures, 69 kilograms of ketamine were seized, up 122.6% over the same period last year. The number of ecstasy tablets that were seized rose 77.6% to 235, 282.