[Vision, Common Purpose & Values] [Foreword] [Operations] [Regional Commanders' Report]
[Personnel and Training] [Management Services] [Finance, Administration and Planning]
[Environmental Report] [Organisation] [Annexes, Crime Charts & Appendices] [Information]
Regional Commanders' Report
Fostering Partnership and Teamwork
In 2007, the Regions continued to maintain close cooperation and liaison with the public, local community and various agencies, building on the ties already well established in the fields of crime prevention, public order and community events to ensure a secure and safe environment. Although the successful policing of a considerable number of public order events, the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR celebrations, and the Good Luck Beijing – HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup equestrian event drew significantly on the Regions’ resources, the Force maintained its focus on the prevention and reduction of crime.
Partnership and teamwork with the community are the key to prevention and detection of crime. A number of programmes were launched to encourage the crime prevention capabilities of sections of the community such as senior citizens, stakeholders in public housing estates and Non Ethnic Chinese, while a multi-agency approach was adopted to combat juvenile-related crimes and domestic violence.
The challenges of the coming years include the further development of new towns and new tourist attractions, as well as the growing cross-boundary infrastructure with the Mainland. To meet these challenges, the Regions will continue to focus on intelligence-led policing, a multi-agency approach and active engagement with the community to combat crime.
Hong Kong Island Region
In 2007, public order event management remained a priority for the Region and accounted for a large expenditure of time and resources, particularly in regard to the special arrangements for the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR celebrations, the visit of President Hu Jintao and more than 1 300 other public processions, meetings and community events. Capitalising on experience gained over the years, the Region was able to effectively balance the needs and expectations of the community with those of organisations and individuals that wished to express their viewpoint.
Due to a three-pronged strategy involving intelligence gathering, enforcement and crime prevention, the crime situation in the Region remained stable with a 37 per cent reduction in cases of robbery and a 21 per cent reduction in burglary. Of particular note was the neutralisation of a triad extortion gang resulting in the arrest of 61 persons from two syndicates. In addition, the Region was successful in the swift detection of three kidnapping and two murder cases.
Kowloon East Region
During 2007, Kowloon East Region was actively engaged with the community to prevent crime. A number of crime prevention initiatives were launched in the year with security companies and other agencies. Of particular note was the Public Rental Housing Estate Project, in which the Region worked hand in hand with management companies to prevent public housing estate burglaries, resulting in a 30 per cent decrease in such cases. The Project was awarded the Certificate of Merit in the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2007.
Throughout the year, a number of emergency response exercises were held in conjunction with the railway companies and Government departments to enhance emergency response capability. The train-on-fire case that occurred on board a West Rail train inside the Tai Lam Tunnel in February was a prime example of excellent multi-agency cooperation, which led to the efficient and professional management of the incident.
Fostering good internal communication and healthy life style was also a priority of the Region. The Regional Commander attended l6 open forums and a number of sporting and recreational events to show support to the staff. Officers in the Region were also encouraged to perform voluntary work for non-government organisations such as the Haven of Hope Christian Service, Civil Service Volunteer Action, Heep Hong Society and the Hong Kong Society for the Aged etc., caring for the community and enhancing the positive image of the Force as a whole.
Kowloon West Region
Kowloon West Region recorded an encouraging 4.9 per cent decrease in overall crime in 2007. In particular, the Region achieved significant reductions in snatchings, robberies, burglaries and pickpocketing by 35.3 per cent, 25.7 per cent, 11.3 per cent and 12.9 per cent respectively. Stringent enforcement action at all levels culminated in the closure of a number of large-scale problematic places of public entertainment that had allowed themselves to become hotbeds of crime. This contributed to a significant reduction of violent crime by 9.8 per cent. Successful intelligence-led enforcement also resulted in an encouraging 16 per cent increase in the arrest of drug-related offenders.
The involvement of Mainland visitors and illegal immigrants in vice activities remained an issue of concern. Concerted efforts continued to curtail vice activities in Mong Kok, the heart of the vice trade in the Region, with cooperation and support from landlords proving pivotal in revoking tenancies of premises used for vice activities. These firm enforcement actions contributed to an overall decrease in vice-related offences by 28.5 per cent in the Region.
Engaging the community in crime prevention is a priority of the Region. To combat scrap metal thefts within the Region, close liaison was maintained with marine store owners to prevent dealing in potential stolen properties. Kowloon City District provided a programme of visits, training and voluntary work for senior citizens to build their crime prevention capability and broaden their circles of influence. In addition, a multi-agency approach was adopted to combat juvenile-related crimes, and prevent the exploitation of the under-aged in vice activities.
A variety of tailor-made crime prevention initiatives were implemented throughout 2007 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.
Engaging Non Ethnic Chinese
In 2007, Yau Tsim District established a Steering Committee on Engaging Non Ethnic Chinese (NEC), which helped to launch NEC initiatives in a more structured manner. As a result, a large-scale Anti-drug Seminar cum Anti-crime Variety Show to promote fight crime messages across communities was held, whilst NEC volunteers supported Police crowd management operations by setting up information booths to assist NEC visitors during major celebratory events. A Fight Crime Without Boundary Talent Competition was also organised. With a large Thai population in Kowloon City District, liaison officers were appointed to foster a better understanding of their policing concerns. Kowloon West Police officers also paid frequent visits to NEC groups, to give them updated advice and briefings on policing matters, and to attend their cultural events.
New Territories North Region
In 2007, two new boundary crossing facilities were opened at Shenzhen Bay Port and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, marking a new era for the Region’s continued commitment to the management of the ever-increasing cross-boundary traffic and passengers. In conjunction with the opening of the Shenzhen Bay Port, a Police vehicle weigh station was also opened at Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long to provide a strategic operational post to the traffic units for tackling serious traffic offences.
The Region was heavily engaged in the police deployment in connection with the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR celebrations and Good Luck Beijing – HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup equestrian event.
2007 saw a modest rise of 3.1 per cent in the crime rate in New Territories North compared to the preceding year. A wide range of anti-crime initiatives led to a reduction in key crimes, with particular success recorded against burglary and theft of trailers, which saw a drop by 12 per cent and 68 per cent respectively. The Region continued to take stringent enforcement actions and crime prevention initiatives against domestic violence, juvenile drug abuse and miscellaneous thefts.
The Region also saw an increase in the number of NEC illegal immigrants (NEC IIs) being arrested in 2007, mostly South Asians. In response to this trend, the Region planned and mounted a joint operation with Marine Region at various strategic locations with a view to intercepting NEC IIs. This issue will remain an operational challenge in 2008.
The Region continued strong enforcement operations targeting drink driving and road racing as well as focused education campaigns on pedestrians and cyclists. Overall traffic accidents dropped by 1.3 per cent with serious accidents reduced by 11 per cent.
New Territories South Region
New infrastructure and development projects have seen New Territories South Region transformed into a dynamic tourist, transport and commercial hub in recent years. The opening of Ngong Ping 360, Hong Kong Disneyland, SkyPlaza, AsiaWorld-Expo, new housing estates and large shopping malls has demanded continuous adjustments to the Region’s policing approach. This has included several community policing initiatives in partnership with the local community that continued to bear fruit in 2007.
As a consequence, robbery, snatching and missing vehicle cases reached their lowest ever recorded levels, whilst burglary reports were at their second lowest level since 1994 when the Region was formally established. However, there was a 4.1 per cent increase in wounding and serious assault cases, with the majority stemming from an unwelcome increase in domestic violence. Miscellaneous thefts and shop thefts also recorded an increase of 3 per cent.
The Region is looking forward to further consolidating strong community support and cooperation in the maintenance of law and order in the coming year.
Marine Region
In 2007, Marine Region was the driving force behind the initiative to promote the safety of recreational sea activities in Hong Kong. As a result, the multi-agency Safety Afloat Committee was formed. The Committee mapped out a long-term strategy with a two-pronged approach of education and enforcement , which halved the number of recreational fatalities at sea from 12 in 2006 to six in 2007.
To sustain the successful targeting of anti-smuggling activities at sea, Marine Region continued to adopt a multi-agency approach by maintaining close cooperation with various local and Mainland enforcement agencies in mounting intelligence-led operations. 2007 was another successful year with $209 million of contraband seized.
The Versatile Maritime Police Response strategy entered its implementation phase in 2007 with two barge operating platforms, six medium patrol launches and six Divisional fast patrol craft arriving in late 2007. The new fleet will be a welcome addition to Marine Police's capability in the fight against illegal activities in Hong Kong waters. It will be complemented by a new Central Command System consisting of day-and-night cameras integrated with the existing radar system, which is expected to be operational in 2009.
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