Despite an environment of increasing challenges
and rising expectations, a number of achievements were made in
the prevention and detection of crime in 2005.
The overall crime situation in 2005 compared
favourably with that of the year before. Burglary, “quick cash”
crimes including robbery, and theft-related offences were the
categories that contributed most to a drop in overall crime of
4.8 per cent. Also encouraging was the considerable drop of 17.9
per cent in the number of serious narcotics offences. Although
ketamine remained the first choice drug of abuse for young people
in 2005, the constant pressure by Police on notorious entertainment
venues quelled the previously escalating abuse of the drug. The
arrest of young people involved in psychotropic substances fell
by a significant 44.2 per cent.
Tripartite cooperation with the Mainland and
Macao authorities in the combat of cross-boundary crimes was one
of the Force´s priorities in 2005. Enhanced tripartite liaison
during the year not only strengthened our partnership, but also
widened our scope of cooperation. Two tripartite operations were
successfully mounted in June and October as a result of which
a number of organised syndicates were neutralised and large seizures
of crime proceeds, drugs, betting slips, fake goods and pirated
discs were made.
Organised Crime and Triads
There were numerous proactive intelligence-led operations throughout
the year aimed at combating triad-related criminal activities.
More than 45 successful operations resulted in the arrest of over
700 persons for various offences. Several high-ranking triad office-bearers
were also arrested. Recognising the importance of working hand-in-hand
with partners, high-level liaison and intelligence sharing continued
with other law enforcement agencies worldwide. This holistic approach
has become increasingly necessary due to the globalisation of
criminals and their involvement in syndicated crimes.
Criminal Intelligence
Throughout 2005, the Criminal Intelligence Bureau consistently
produced quality intelligence in support of the Force´s effort
to tackle organised and serious crime as well as triad activities.
Operationally, the Bureau initiated a number of intelligence-led
operations and worked in close partnership with other units in
the Force to achieve a number of excellent results. The Bureau
also delivered quality intelligence targeting triad activities,
resulting in the arrest of 278 triad members during triad society
elections and two tripartite anti-triad operations. These were
conducted jointly with Guangdong Public Security Department and
Macao Police.
In pursuit of experience sharing and best practices, the Bureau
continued to actively participate in the management of the Asia
Region Heads of Criminal Intelligence Working Group throughout
the year. The Bureau also conducted a triad course for 23 law
enforcement officers representing 18 law enforcement agencies
from around the world.
Commercial Crime
The Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) continued to adopt a proactive
approach to intelligence-led investigations of syndicated and
serious fraud, counterfeit and forgery cases, as well as technology
crime.
The Bureau´s responsibility to protect investors from the unscrupulous
actions of directors of listed companies received an encouraging
boost in June when the former chairman and CEO of a listed company
was convicted of two counts of false accounting (involving $300
million) and sentenced to six years´ imprisonment. This was a
landmark case for enhancing corporate governance standards in
Hong Kong.
In September, two local residents received US$4.48 million (HK$35
million) lost in a Nigerian investment fraud case that occurred
five years ago. The recovered funds were returned through the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria, with the
help of CCB. The case marks the first recovery and return of crime
proceeds from Nigeria.
Offences perpetrated by street deception gangs subsided throughout
the year. Our three-pronged approach of intelligence-led investigation
and proactive targeting of suspects, extensive publicity campaigns
as well as enhanced liaison with Mainland authorities caused a
decline in cases and reported losses in 2005. CCB also took proactive
action against syndicates involved in counterfeiting activities,
and several joint operations with Mainland, Japanese and British
law enforcement agencies were mounted. Arrests were made in all
jurisdictions and over 800 counterfeit credit cards were seized.
The Bureau´s head of Technology Crime is also the Chairperson
of the Interpol Asia-South Pacific Working Party on Information
Technology Crime. Following the establishment of a state-of-art
technology crime training suite in Police Headquarters in February,
the Force is able to produce highly professional technology crime
training courses for its own members, including a CD-ROM based
e-learning package on “Understanding Technology Crime and its
Legal Issues”. The Force continues to forge public and private
partnerships in the fight against technology crimes.
Narcotics
Combating trafficking and abuse of dangerous drugs was one of
the Force´s operational targets for the year. Police were determined
to use all available means to protect Hong Kong society from the
dangers of drug abuse. The overall number of arrests for drug-related
offences fell in 2005. However, the total seizures of ketamine,
methamphetamine and herbal cannabis increased due to several multi-kilogram
interdictions.
The increasing popularity of cocaine continued. To deal with
the growing problem, enforcement action was stepped up and the
number of cocaine-related arrests consequently rose in 2005. The
developing trend of “crack” cocaine abuse became a
matter for concern following increases in local production and
seizures. Furthermore, a trend towards selling methamphetamine
in divans (places where the drug is both sold and abused) was
noted in 2005.
Narcotics Bureau´s joint efforts with Mainland and overseas counterparts
to tackle the cross-boundary and transnational drugs trade reaped
rewards with numerous successful cases. Through such cooperation,
a number of substantial drug consignments were seized before reaching
their intended destination in Hong Kong and other jurisdictions.
Financial Investigation
Financial investigation is an essential tool in tackling organised
crimes. During the year a good number of complex financial investigations
were conducted, and 53 money launderers were prosecuted. The Force
also actively participated in local and international initiatives
against money laundering and terrorist financing. In February
and May, in partnership with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation,
anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism seminars
were held in Hong Kong. In September, a series of seminars was
held for compliance officers of the banking, securities, insurance
and remittance/money changing industries to enhance their knowledge
and awareness. Over 700 compliance officers from private sector
industries attended the seminars.
Crime Prevention
In addition to advising all government departments on security,
the Crime Prevention Bureau advises commercial enterprises, professional
trade bodies and the public at large. The final stage of the Bureau´s
move to the new Police Headquarters was completed in August with
the opening of its new security equipment display facility. Constructed
with the generous support of the Hong Kong security industry,
the facility is available to the public, providing them with an
opportunity to learn about the capability and suitability of products
to fulfill their security needs.
Liaison
The year 2005 saw a further strengthening in ties between the
Force and its strategic partners worldwide with new links established
with the police of Cambodia and Kazakhstan. During the year, a
Chief Inspector was for the first time posted to the Interpol´s
office in Bangkok, Thailand in order to show our active support
for international cooperation. Furthermore, Liaison Bureau organised
the Law Enforcement Agencies Observer Scheme during the World
Trade Organization Hong Kong Ministerial Conference (WTO HKMC)
to share collective knowledge and experience on policing an international
event of such magnitude among strategic partners of the Force.
Forensic Support
The Identification Bureau is part of the Crime Wing Support Group
and is responsible for a wide range of fingerprint, DNA evidence
and photograph-related duties. In 2005, the Bureau established
the criminal history of 64 164 individuals and linked 1 412 persons
to 1 301 cases.
In support of the appeal from Interpol following the tsunami
tragedy in Phuket, Thailand, Identification Bureau sent two fingerprint
experts in early 2005 to assist in the identification of victims
including missing Hong Kong citizens.
Among the major events of the Bureau in the year was the preparation
and co-organising of the 17th Meeting of International Association
of Forensic Science (IAFS), together with the Government Laboratory,
at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This was a
premier event for the forensic community, attracting more than
1 200 professional forensic practitioners from 57 countries. It
had an added meaning for Hong Kong, since this was the first time
the IAFS Meeting was held in China and the second time in Asia.
In February, the Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau was successfully
granted a renewal of accreditation by the American Society of
Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board for
another five years, thereby ensuring that the forensic service
the Force provides continues to be quality assured.
Criminal Records
The Criminal Records Bureau continues to provide round the clock
supportive services to front-line Police officers and other government
departments with updated information readily available on the
“Enhanced Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System” (EPONICS).
In April, a project was launched to replace the EPONICS to improve
operational efficiency, to allow more efficient interfacing with
other systems and to aim at automated processing of arrest documentation
and digitalisation of photographs.
Child Abuse and Domestic Violence
In response to the increasing prevalence of the problem of domestic
violence, the changing expectations of the society and subsequent
amendments to the legal framework, the operational procedures
for handling domestic violence have taken on a multi-disciplinary
and cross-sectoral approach. A Central Domestic Violence Database,
which records all cases of domestic violence, was introduced in
March to provide front-line officers with timely information.
Since domestic violence is a multi-dimensional problem, the Force
also sought improvements to the working level communications with
the Social Welfare Department and NGOs by setting up a new Acknowledgement
System and fourteen District Liaison Groups.
The Force places a strong emphasis on training in respect of
the handling of cases of child abuse and domestic violence, focusing
not only on the operational and procedural aspects of domestic
violence incidents but also on the need for sensitivity in regard
to the victim´s psychology and dilemma, and on empathy and conflict
management.
Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support
System (MIIDSS)
MIIDSS was utilised in the establishment of a Police Enquiry
Unit to assist the Police Command and Control Centres at the Regional
and Police Headquarters to collate and manage massive information
generated during the WTO HKMC. Following on the successful application
of MIIDSS during the outbreak of SARS and the tsunami disaster,
MIIDSS was also involved in a consultancy study commissioned by
the Department of Health and the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau
after the establishment of a “Communicable Disease Information
System” (CDIS).
Witness Protection Unit
Apart from being deployed on a series of protective operations
as its core duty, the Unit also assisted a large number of organisations
in witness protection-related training throughout the year. Amongst
the trainees for the two Basic Training Courses organised during
the year were a number of Customs and Excise officers who would
form a Working Group for the setting up of the Customs and Excise
Department´s own Witness Protection Unit.
Police Tactical Unit
In 2005, Police Tactical Unit (PTU) officers continued to play
a vital role in the safe conduct of a number of major public events
that included the 8th Anniversary of the Establishment of the
HKSAR, the public procession on July 1 and a number of marches.
PTU training staff trained over 5 000 officers for duties at the
WTO HKMC as well as delivered briefings and awareness training
to a number of other government departments. They formed the core
of the Tactics and Training Working Group for the event and were
pivotal in distributing the protective equipment and ammunition
to those frontline units involved in the operation.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau
The Bureau is responsible for all bomb disposal work in the HKSAR
including criminal and terrorist incidents, both on dry land and
underwater. The wide range of specialist areas dealt with by the
Bureau, including counter terrorist response, requires a heavy
emphasis on training and maintaining of international contacts.
During the year, exchanges took place with similar units in the
UK, the USA and Australia. Regular contact was also maintained
with the network of Bomb Data Centres around the world and Hong
Kong remained at the forefront of the international development
of tactics to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and
nuclear attacks.
Counter Terrorism
The Force maintained measures to ensure Hong Kong´s security
against terrorism during 2005. In the first year after the port
of Hong Kong became fully compliant with the security requirements
of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, and
collaborating with the Security Bureau, Marine Department and
other government departments and private sector interests, the
Force conducted a major maritime security exercise code named
DASHRUNNER in July.
Frequent operations to test security at Hong Kong International
Airport were conducted with regular security reviews coordinated
with all representatives of the airport community. Also in November,
a major counter terrorism and disaster recovery exercise, code
named HEADDIVER, was conducted in connection with preparations
for the WTO HKMC.
Illegal Immigration
There has been an overall downward trend since 1994 for illegal
immigration from the Mainland. During 2005, 2 191 illegal immigrants
were arrested by Police, an average of six per day, representing
a decrease of 24 per cent as compared to 2004. Close liaison in
the form of regular meetings and exchange of intelligence was
maintained with the Guangdong Border Defence Bureau. Entire sections
of the border fence are now monitored round-the-clock by advanced
technical equipment to intercept illegal immigrants.
Force Search Unit and Police Dog Unit
The Force Search Unit is responsible for developing professional
search capabilities, for example at crime scenes and to ensure
the security of venues visited by important guests. In 2005, the
Unit aided by the Police Dog Unit´s “sniffer” dogs, successfully
conducted search operations for major events including the Hong
Kong Rugby Sevens, the Opening of Hong Kong Disneyland and the
WTO HKMC.
Licensing
During 2005, the Police began to issue arms licences to civilian
hunters holding valid special permits issued by the Director of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, to hunt wild pigs. The
Police Licensing Office also continued to act as the executive
arm of the Liquor Licensing Board. Some 3 300 referrals of applications
for liquor licences and 23 new applications for Massage Establishment
Licences were processed. In addition, 2005 saw an accumulated
record of 20 000 registered societies.
Occupational Safety and Health
An Occupational Safety and Health Force Safety Management System,
designed to comply with the legal requirements of employers under
the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, was introduced to
the Force in 2004, underlining our commitment to caring for our
officers. During 2005, over 400 Superintendents and above received
risk management training, whilst predictive risk assessment and
retrospective accident and incident investigation training was
delivered to over 1 000 Inspectorate officers and their civilian
equivalents.
Public Relations
The Police Public Relations Branch (PPRB) plays a vital role
in informing the public about the work of the Police in order
to project a positive image of the Force and enlisting public
support in the maintenance of law and order via a proactive community
relations programme.