Safe city: Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee meets the media after attending the fight crime committee meeting.

The number of drug abusers in Hong Kong is declining, although the seizures of ketamine and ice increased significantly in the first half of this year, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee says.

Speaking to the media after attending the Fight Crime Committee meeting , Mr Lee said the increase in seizures is mainly attributed to good international co-operation. Most seizures are made at boundary control points.

It does not mean that the abuse of this kind of drug in Hong Kong has increased, he said.

Mr Lee said the number of crimes reported in the first half of 2005 registered a drop of 6.1%. Decreases were witnessed in offences such as robbery, burglary, thefts, deception and serious drug offences.Violent crime is also down 0.7%.

There have been increases in certain crimes, such as criminal intimidation, criminal damage and indecent assault.

The number of visitors arrested for criminal offences has also dropped, although in the first half of this year the number of visitors increased, he said.

"So by and large, the law and order situation in Hong Kong is rather stable," he said.