Police are hunting those who wrote intimidation letters to 22 Legislative Councillors who have been threatened in the last two years. Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee told the Legislative Council today Police received 19 reports of threats to legislators last year, and seven cases were detected.

In 2006 four reports were received and two were detected. Mr Lee attributed the rise to last year's election campaigns. However, he warned Police will not tolerate the intimidation of politicians.

"The Police are very concerned about cases of politically exposed persons receiving intimidation letters. Regarding the increase in cases in 2007, Police do not rule out the possibility that with several major electoral activities held during the year, certain individuals might have reacted too radically to electoral matters," he said.

"[However] Hong Kong is a society under the rule of law. Police will not tolerate any act of intimidation committed by any person against others."

He said a specialist investigation team is now chasing down the culprits and called on victims to report threats to their personal safety to Police immediately.