Safe city: Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Lee Ka-chiu explains the latest crime situation in Hong Kong.

The overall crime rate fell in the first half of the year, down 3.9% on same period last year, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Lee Ka-chiu says.

Reviewing the crime situation today Mr Lee said 38,777 cases were recorded up to the end of June, compared with 40,357 last year, with 27,090 people arrested. Of these cases 7,095 involved serious assault, criminal intimidation, wounding and indecent assault.

Domestic violence cases fell 3.9% to 3,557, with a third of them involving serious assault, criminal intimidation and damage. Robberies fell 16% to 550 cases, and none involved a genuine firearm. There were 15,930 "quick money" cases, down 3%, mostly involving taxi and street robberies.

Serious drug cases rose 6% to 1,494, in which 1,270 involved dangerous psychotropic drugs, up 20%. There were 770 and 127 cases involving ketamine and cocaine. A total of 1,850 serious drug arrests were made, with 30% involving young people, up 38%. Drug seizures rose, with heroin up 85%, ketamine 80.6% and cocaine 31%.

Although triad-related crimes rose 17% to 1,215, Mr Lee said recent undercover operations have led to more crackdowns and arrests. Twenty-one murder cases were recorded, compared to eight last year. However, Mr Lee said the figure is similar to the past trend of 49 annually in the last decade.

"We expect the crime situation will remain stable in the second half of the year," Mr Lee said, adding the Police will focus on quick-money cases, triad-related crime, and drug and domestic violence cases, and will seek heavier court penalties.