[Vision, Our Common Purpose & Our Values] [Foreword] [Operations] [Regional Commanders' Report]
[Personnel and Training] [Management Services]
[Finance, Administration and Planning] [Environmental Report] [Organisation] [Annex, Crime Charts & Appendix]
Regional Commanders' Report
Cooperation for a Safe and Stable Society
Throughout the year 2006, the Regions' cooperation with the public and with various agencies, both in Hong Kong and internationally, resulted in a significant decrease in crimes of all kinds especially street deception, burglary, robbery and pickpocketing. The successful policing of a great number of public order events drew considerably on the Regions' resources. Nevertheless, the Force maintained its focus on the prevention and reduction of crime.
Active engagement with the community was the key. A large number of crime prevention campaigns were conducted in the year together with other agencies and volunteers. Cooperation was built up with Non Ethnic Chinese, as well as with stakeholders in public housing estates and with the residents and visitors of Hong Kong's more rural areas and country parks. Backing this up was the good staff working relationship between the Force and its officers.
The policing focus of the Regions for 2007 will continue to be on engaging partnership from relevant stakeholders in the prevention of crime to ensure that all local communities continue to enjoy a secure and stable environment to live, work and prosper.
Hong Kong Island Region
2006 was another eventful year for Hong Kong Island Region. A high proportion of resources was dedicated to the successful policing of a large number of public order events, including 800 crowd management operations, 1 463 public processions and meetings, the visits of several senior Central Government leaders and the International Telecommunication Union TELECOM WORLD 2006. Nevertheless, the Region also achieved notable successes in crime prevention and the detection of a number of cases involving triad members. A holistic approach combining enforcement with crime prevention contributed towards a 41.7 per cent drop in cases of street deception and a 24 per cent drop in pickpocketing. Of particular note in crime detection was the neutralisation of a triad controlled extortion gang preying on public light bus drivers and lunch box delivery operators as well as a burglary and car theft syndicate. Another swift detection concerned a high profile assault on a prominent Legislative Council member.
Active engagement of the community in partnership to prevent crime was one of the top priorities of the Region. A large number of crime prevention campaigns were conducted in the year and two websites, supported by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design and the University of Hong Kong SPACE, were introduced with focuses on internet crime, home security and strengthening communications between the Police, schools and youth work organisations.
Fostering a good staff working relationship was also a priority of the Region. The Regional Commander attended 12 open forums of various formations, a number of staff recreational and sports events as well as inter-departmental exercises to show his support to front-line officers. The policing focus of the Region for 2007 will continue to be engaging partnership from relevant stakeholders in the prevention of crime and the facilitation of all lawful public assemblies and processions.
Kowloon East Region
During 2006, it was gratifying to note a decrease in burglaries and incidents of violence in Kowloon East Region. To a certain extent, this was due to the continuation of the Region's partnership with public housing estates' management, residents and security staff to control unauthorised access to residential apartment blocks. Another project showing similar care and concern for public welfare was the highly successful 'Sound of Silence' programme which aims to discourage recidivism among juvenile supervisees.
One incident that underlined the partnership between the Force, other government departments and members of the public was the tragic gas explosion at Wai King Mansion in Ngau Tau Kok in early April. Sau Mau Ping District's efforts in ensuring effective liaison between the affected residents and the Home Affairs Department, as well as in securing temporary shelter were well received by the public.
The Region contains a broad expanse of country park and hills. Lost or injured hikers are therefore a continuing responsibility. During the year, initiatives continued to be launched by the Sai Kung Rural Patrol Unit and the Operations Wing in collaboration with the Lands Department to locate and rescue them using the Department's Geospatial Information Hub and by referring to the unique serial numbers on all man-made objects.
Another integral part of the Region is Rail District, which deals with more people on a daily basis than any other formation in the Force. Over 3.2 million passengers are carried on Hong Kong's railways systems daily and Rail District looks after them, ensuring their security and contributing to Hong Kong's reputation as one of the world's safest cities.
Kowloon West Region
During 2006, Kowloon West Region recorded an encouraging 4.8 per cent decrease in overall crime. In particular, the Region achieved significant reductions in pickpocketing, robbery and burglary cases by 34.1 per cent, 16 per cent and 13.6 per cent respectively. Strategic and firm enforcement action against triad activities continued. Given the prevalence of entertainment premises in the Region, the late night violence and drug abuse necessitate stringent enforcement action at all levels. In 2006, successful intelligence-led enforcement resulted in an encouraging 15 per cent increase in the arrest of drug-related offenders.
The involvement of Mainland visitors & illegal immigrants in vice activities remained an issue of concern, as they accounted for 94.3 per cent of all the prostitutes arrested in 2006. In Mong Kok, the heart of illicit vice business in the Region, concerted efforts continued to curtail vice activities through the prosecution of perpetrators and the removal of vice signboards. Cooperation and support from landlords was pivotal in revoking the tenancies of premises used for vice activities.
The Force's emphasis on partnership was also visible elsewhere. Mong Kok District offered tenants of buildings advice and assistance on establishing Owners Incorporations and installing appropriate security devices to prevent property-related crime, while Yau Tsim District worked hand-in-hand with the Tourism Board, hotel management, security professionals, and the banking industry to prevent tourist-related crime. Both districts developed expertise in tackling opportunist thefts, resulting in the arrest of a number of local and overseas criminal gangs and a significant drop in such cases.
Throughout the year, Kowloon West Region continued to proactively address the Region's prominence of Non Ethnic Chinese (NEC) communities. Such efforts included the translation of common police notices and anti-crime messages into minority languages, crime prevention activities, and visits to NEC community schools, social centres and places of worship. In April, the Force Working Group on NEC communities was established to enhance communication and foster partnership with the NEC to fight crime throughout the territory.
The Regional Crime Prevention Office launched a variety of crime prevention initiatives to improve the knowledge and awareness of the public. These initiatives included youth programmes funded by the Kowloon West Youth-Care Committee, crime prevention seminars and campaigns as well as publicising crime prevention measures via the media.
Honours for Bravery
In March, Constable TSANG Kwok-hang sadly lost his life while his partner Constable SIN Ka-keung was seriously injured in a tragic shoot-out in Tsim Sha Tsui. A Force Funeral with Full Honours was subsequently held in memory of Constable TSANG on April 4.
Constable CHU Chun-kwok, who almost lost his life after an attack by an armed culprit while on patrol in Sham Shui Po in 2005, has been given special medical treatment in Guangzhou with the assistance of the Force Welfare Services Group.
In recognition of their bravery, the three foregoing officers were awarded the Gold Medal for Bravery by the Chief Executive on July 1, 2006.
New Territories North Region
In 2006, much effort was invested with the community and the front-line officers to raise the awareness of the destructive effects of domestic violence. A closer working relationship between Police, non-governmental organisations and the Social Welfare Department was developed through the launch of various joint educational campaigns. A comprehensive database on families with problems was developed and supervision of domestic violence cases was also enhanced.
A sustained effort to combat youth crimes was maintained throughout the year. The Region focused on secondary school students. Dedicated recreational and educational activities were held with other agencies and volunteers, which were backed up by intelligence-based anti-crime operations. As a result, juvenile crime arrests dropped by 13 per cent.
Care for the community in New Territories North extends beyond the densely populated urban areas into the rural areas and country parks of the region where the Rural Patrol Units of the districts and the Quick Reaction Force build up community trust by crime prevention work, anti-illegal immigrant operations, and assisting villagers, hikers and country park visitors in distress.
The Region has been heavily involved in projects to improve Hong Kong's links with the Mainland. In November, the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal commenced operation with services to Zhuhai. In 2007, the Lok Ma Chau KCRC Spurline to Futien, and the Shenzhen Bay Port Crossing Point at Shekou will both open. These infrastructure developments will impose new policing challenges that the Region is gearing up to meet. In the meantime existing cross boundary facilities for the public were enhanced by the opening of a new Operations Command Centre at Lok Ma Chau where Police, Customs and Immigration Officers work together to improve passenger flows to and from the Mainland at peak times.
In 2006, due to strong enforcement operations targeting drink driving and road racing as well as focused education campaigns on pedestrians and cyclists, overall traffic accidents dropped by 3.6 per cent with fatal accidents reduced by 21 per cent.
New Territories South Region
While the overall crime in the Region saw an increase of 12.7 per cent in 2006 after two consecutive years of decline, it was heartening to see that the more serious crimes remained at a very low level. Robbery was the lowest in the past ten years, burglary the second lowest, and taking conveyance without authority the third lowest. Cargo theft at the airport, which had once been a cause for concern, recorded a significant drop of 57 per cent and 66.3 per cent respectively in the number of cases and the value of properties involved, thanks to partnership between the business operators and Police units in the Region. Shop theft and serious assault and wounding, which accounted for most of the increase in the overall crime, recorded high detection rates of 78.1 per cent and 78.4 per cent respectively through Police-public partnerships, with the detection rate for the latter offences being the highest in the past 10 years.
Looking ahead, the New Territories South Region will continue to work hand in hand with its strategic partners, both within and outside the Government, to ensure that all local communities continue to enjoy a secure and safe environment to live and work.
Marine Region
Following funding approval of the Versatile Maritime Policing Response strategy by the Legislative Council Finance Committee in mid-2005, considerable progress was made in its implementation, which is expected to be completed by 2010. In 2006, the Marine Department issued contracts for the procurement of two Barge Operating Platforms and 17 Medium Patrol Launches, which will be delivered in 2007, while tender evaluation for the Central Command System and the Divisional Fast Patrol Craft continued apace.
In 2006, Marine Region also enhanced its enforcement actions against smuggling activities via sea routes by making use of the multi-agency approach. With the full cooperation of the Customs & Excise, Marine and Immigration Departments and other law enforcement agencies from the Mainland, efforts against syndicated smuggling activities yielded excellent results. The value of contraband seized in 2006 amounted to $270 million, which was a record for the Region.
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