An inter-departmental mechanism to aid Hong Kong people in large-scale overseas incidents is being explored, and initial proposals will be ready in months, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee says.

Speaking on an RTHK radio talk show today, Mr Lee noted the Immigration Department has a round-the-clock hotline to offer support to Hong Kong people in the Mainland and overseas when needed, and the mechanism has been operating smoothly.

However, the tsunamis in South Asia triggered awareness of the need for an inter-departmental mechanism to handle overseas incidents involving a large number of Hong Kong people, he added.

Mr Lee said the mechanism is under study and initial proposals will be ready in months for public and lawmakers' discussions. The Government will also liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the issue involves different jurisdictions.

Recent firearms cases do not involve Mainlanders

On Hong Kong's crime situation, Mr Lee noted the crime rate and the number of homicide cases remain low. He also expressed concerns over the recent cases involving firearms, adding investigations revealed the assailants are not being hired from the Mainland.

He noted there may be a small amount of firearms being smuggled into Hong Kong, and stressed all efforts, including stepped up exchanges of intelligence and enforcement, will be taken to stop this.

Mr Lee said the number of Mainland visitors under the Individual Visit Scheme has surpassed 5 million since the scheme was launched two years ago. However, the crime rate involving these visitors remains low, with only two in 10,000 visitors arrested for criminal offences.

He noted some Mainland visitors work illegally, adding strengthened exchanges with Mainland authorities, stepped up enforcement at blackspots and stricter inspection at control points will help tackle the problem.

All control points to have e-channels by 2006

Regarding the automated passenger clearance system launched at Lowu in December, Mr Lee said the system, used by more than 300,000 people since its launch, will help enhance the Immigration Department's ability in handling a sudden upsurge of cross-boundary passengers. He hoped the system, with a total of 270 e-channels, will be installed at all control points by 2006.

Turning to drug abuse, Mr Lee said the trend of psychotropic substance use and poly-drug abuse among young people is increasing. To effectively combat the problem, there is a need to step up international co-operation, intelligence exchange and education, he added.

He also revealed measures are being studied to tackle copyright piracy relating to peer-to-peer file-sharing and Bit Torrent.

The measures should strike a balance between copyright protection and free flow of information, Mr Lee noted, adding the trade, lawmakers and the public will be consulted on the proposed measures.