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Hong Kong's crime rate falls 3.9 pct

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-30 23:04

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's overall crime rate fell in the first half of 2008, down 3.9 percent on the same period of 2007, Hong Kong Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Lee Ka-chiu said here Wednesday.

Reviewing the crime situation, Lee said 38,777 cases were recorded up to the end of June, compared with 40,357 in 2007, 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 percent to 3,557, with a third of them involving serious assault, criminal intimidation and damage. Robberies fell 16 percent to 550 cases, and none involved a genuine firearm. There were 15,930 "quick money" cases, down 3 percent, mostly involving taxi and street robberies.

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

Although triad-related crimes rose 17 percent to 1,215, Lee said recent undercover operations have led to more crackdowns and arrests. Twenty-one murder cases were recorded, compared to eight last year. However, 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," 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.