Top tasks: Police Deputy Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung, Commissioner Tang King-shing and Director of Operations Peter Yam unveil the Commissioner's Operational Priorities 2008 at a press conference.

Hong Kong's crime situation remains stable, Police Commissioner Tang King-shing says, noting there were 80,796 crime cases recorded last year, down 0.4% on 2006. 

Reviewing the Force's work today, Mr Tang said the overall crime detection rate rose one percentage point, to 45.6% last year. The number of violent crimes increased 0.6% to 14,934 cases, and the detection rate grew 2.7 percentage points to 65.5%.

Noting there were 18 homicide cases last year, Mr Tang said the figure - down 48.6% on 2006 - was the lowest in the past 30 years. Bank robberies went down 65.2% to eight and there were no cases of robbery with firearms recorded.

Burglaries fell 15.1% last year to 4,512 cases - the lowest since 1976, with 15% of the cases related to residential premises. Criminal intimidation cases rose 16.2% to 1,960, though, and pick-pocketing cases went up 20.3% to 1,198.

Drug fight

Police had 5,386 operations against narcotics offences last year, up 18.5% over 2006. The year saw 2,769 serious narcotics offences, up 30.5% on 2006, with 77.2% relating to psychotropic substances. Of the 3,531 people arrested, 922 were young people, twice the 2006 figure.

On last year's drug seizures, the amount of cocaine rose 12 times on 2006 to 200 kilogrammes, and "ice" seven times, to 57 kilogrammes. The amount of ketamine seized fell 90.2% to 99kg, and the number of ecstasy-type tablets fell 42.7%, to 59,714 tablets. The amount of heroin seized also declined 19.2% to 42 kilogrammes.

Mr Tang said the Force will go all out to combat drug offences this year. Apart from enforcement, cross-sectoral co-operation to prevent youth drug abuse and close ties with overseas counterparts will also be bolstered.

Turning to domestic violence, Mr Tang said the number of cases rose 59.6% last year, to 7,509. Of these, 2,505 were considered crime cases. He attributed the rise to people's increasing willingness to report domestic violence.

Last year saw 4,644 juveniles and 5,023 young people arrested for crime, up 3% and 1% on 2006. The number of Mainland illegal immigrants arrested fell 22.2% to 362, while the number of visitors arrested for crime dipped 11% to 1,415.

Director of Operations Peter Yam said the number of traffic accidents grew 2.5% on 2006, to 15,223 last year, with cases involving franchised buses and mini-buses up 12.5% and 8.7%. Police will boost road safety through enforcement, education and publicity, he added.

Future plans

Looking ahead, Mr Tang said the Commissioner's Operational Priorities 2008 has set out the key areas which the Force should address this year. In addition to the seven priorities identified last year, the policing of 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events have been added to the list. Click here for details.

He said the plan for policing the equestrian events is being finalised and the Beijing Organising Committee has liaised with overseas enforcement agencies on anti-terrorist work.

Mr Tang said Hong Kong's terrorist threat level is assessed as "moderate", adding the Force will ensure the equestrian events are held smoothly in a safe environment. Resources will be effectively deployed to manage the events while continuing to offer day-to-day police service.

Deputy Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung said 105 inspectors and 750 officers will be recruited in 2008-09. All divisions will deploy manpower flexibility, taking into account the equestrian events, he added.