Fortifying National Security Defences

National security is the best guarantee of the people's well-being and the economy's progress. Under its commitment to protect the country, the Force stands fully behind the HKSAR Government's legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law and will render unwavering support to the implementation of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. We are actively uniting various segments of society and joining hands to fortify national security defences. The NSD operates a hotline that makes it easy for members of the public to provide information or report a case, and also spreads national security messages through the Force's official WeChat account. The hotline has received more than 650,000 pieces of information since its inception. This has not only helped us crack down more effectively on activities that jeopardise the country, but also manifested citizens' sense of solidarity and mission to do their part for national security, the responsibility of one and all.

Since the NSL took effect in 2020, the NSD has arrested 290 people suspected of engaging in acts and activities that endanger national security. A commemorative booklet, Defending Our Home, was published at the third-year mark of the NSD. This booklet is a collection of precious photographs that captured many historic moments in the Force's protection of national security, showcasing the indefatigable determination of police officers in keeping the country safe.

We are keen to nurture a sense of national identity and belonging in the young. Towards this end, the Hong Kong Police College worked with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau to conduct Chinese-style Foot Drill Instructor Workshops for 13 youth uniformed groups and trained more than 300 instructors. These workshops not only improved the Chinese-style marching of the young participants, but also bolstered their sense of national identity and discipline.

Protecting Society Through Unity of Strength

Overall crimes in 2023 amounted to 90,276 cases, up 28.9% compared with the total of 70,048 in 2022. The rise was mainly led by a greater number of deception cases. In addition, due to the continued impacts of the pandemic on Hong Kong in the first half of 2022, the occurrence of some types of conventional crime remained low that year. Hence, by comparison, most conventional crimes registered year-on-year growth as life in society went back to normal in 2023. The Force's persistent hard work, coupled with the public's active response to fighting and preventing crime, significantly reduced a number of conventional crimes compared with 2018, the year before “the black-clad violence” and the pandemic broke out. In particular, robberies and burglaries in 2023 were at their second lowest since records began in 1969. The detection rate of robberies even hit a peak of 83%, while that for burglaries was the second highest on record. Excluding deception and blackmail through naked chats, 48,335 crimes were registered overall in 2023, about 6.1% more than the 45,572 in 2018. The outcome showed continuing stability of the overall crime situation.

However, the challenges brought by fraud are affecting many parts of the world, and Hong Kong is no exception. In view of this trend, the Force is devoting much efforts to working with law enforcement agencies, the public and private sectors and stakeholders at the global level. In September, we organised an International Symposium on Cyber Policing, inviting the attendance of more than 100 senior police officials from 39 jurisdictions, as well as experts and representatives from the innovation and technology (IT), cyber security and communications fields.

On the domestic front, the Force not only beefed up law enforcement to the best of its ability, but also sought to gather cross-sectoral support to clamp down on fraud. In June, we jointly launched a Financial Intelligence Evaluation Sharing Tool (FINEST) with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Association of Banks as an information-sharing platform within the banking industry. FINEST makes it faster to exchange information, thus raising efficiency in detecting and preventing fraud activities and mule account networks. Its launch was followed by the formation of an Anti-Deception Alliance between the Force and 10 major banks in November. The banks send representatives to the police headquarters to work, creating a direct, real-time communication and collaboration arrangement to intercept payments to scammers and issue deception alerts. The alliance has significantly shrunk the average response time taken by banks to block the transfer of victims' funds.

During the year, the Force continued to cast its net wide in anti-scam publicity. The public can now get help from our new Scameter+ mobile application to avoid fraud. In November, we jointly introduced a Faster Payment System (FPS) Suspicious Proxy ID Alert mechanism with 44 banks and stored-value payment operators. The mechanism links our Scameter database to the FPS and notifies users when their cash is transferred to questionable accounts.

Professional capabilities in the Force are constantly being upgraded to confront the challenges of Internet fraud and money laundering. The Money Laundering Expert Cadre (MLEC), a voluntary secondary-duty team formed in October 2022, actively backs up frontline financial investigations, provides expert testimony during a court trial and applies to the judiciary for heavier sentences in money laundering cases. Its MLEC Training Course was accredited with Hong Kong Qualifications Framework Level 5 in 2023.

To be effective in fighting crime and ensuring public safety, it is necessary to draw on the strength of stakeholders and the support of the public. The Force therefore hopes to enhance public understanding of police duties to boost support and confidence in us. We were buoyed by the success of Guarding Our City with Faith, a promotional video produced with renowned director Mr Dante Lam in 2021, and decided to press on and renew the partnership in 2023. The result was Guarding Our City with Faith – The Prequel. This new promotional video recounts the Force's arrest of terrorists 48 hours before the events narrated in Guarding Our City with Faith. It centres on the Emergency Unit, to give viewers a clearer idea of police officers tirelessly standing guard over Hong Kong day and night. In May, the Force launched SafeCity.HK, a one-stop website offering the latest anti-crime communications. Forty-seven SafeCity Ambassadors were also appointed, tasked with telling their own organisations and networks about fighting crime. As at December, the initiative had linked up more than 2.1 million people. The Safe Community Hub, the first citywide anti-terror setup, entered service in October. It disseminates messages in an interactive manner, aiming to involve the whole of society in keeping terrorism at bay.

A Heart for the Young

The Force cares passionately about the development of youngsters and strives to ensure they grow up in a safe environment. We staunchly believe that, to cultivate young people's awareness of abiding by the law and curb youth crime, it is important to join hands with all stakeholders, including schools, principals and non-governmental organisations. Only by working from the ground up and persevering hand in hand can we achieve a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. From 2020, the Force has been boosting anti-crime efforts together with school head associations, parent-teacher associations and school sponsoring bodies. In February 2023, we co-operated with the Education Bureau to prepare crime prevention material and training for all primary and secondary schoolteachers. We also published the Youth Crime Prevention Booklet two years in a row, which, combined with a series of short videos and the involvement of schools and parents, presented a practical, down-to-earth means of reminding young people to steer clear of breaking the law. Apart from maintaining communication with stakeholders, the Force will continue to reach out to the young. These efforts include arrangements by the Junior Police Call (JPC) to take youths to the Mainland for exchanges. More than 1,500 JPC members made the trip in 2023. They learned about the history and culture of our Motherland, got to know their local counterparts, and at the same time saw the country's exponential advances in technology.

Overseas Acclaim for Technological Milestones

A major mission of the Force is to protect the lives and property of Hong Kong people. In the age of digital policing, we are scaling up the use of IT to bolster rescue capabilities. Our Advanced Mobile Location (AML) service was extended to the Android and Harmony telecommunications operating systems, making Hong Kong the first Asian city to get comprehensive AML coverage. Anyone who calls 999 on a smartphone to seek emergency help will be automatically sending the phone's GPS data to the Command and Control Centre, thus speeding up the rescue work.

The newly developed mobile application, HKSOS, is another tool for raising operational teams' efficiency during search-and-rescue missions. The app can issue unique SOS signals, allowing rescue workers to ascertain the location of the person in distress, even in extreme conditions without a phone network. It also caters for people with speech or hearing impairment who may wish to report a case. Apart from the existing 992 emergency SMS service, they may register on HKSOS, which would alert 999 console personnel to the special needs of the caller.

Our judicious use of IT to protect lives has received recognition on the world stage. At the 48th International Exhibition of Innovations Geneva, we clinched three gold medals with Congratulations of the Jury. The winning entries were the 3-R Solution and HKSOS mobile application, which improved departments' ability to co-ordinate in search-and-rescue operations and ensured public safety during outdoor activities; the Signal Radar, capable of detecting phone SOS signals in complex terrain or conditions without mobile network coverage; and RescueAI, an analysis and forecast tool that could help rescuers define search zones. At the Mobile World Congress 2024, the HKSOS app was shortlisted as one of the six finalists in the Global Mobile Awards.

Conclusion

In 2023, the Force successfully united cross-sectoral strengths and joined up with communities to fortify the defences that keep the country safe, serving together to protect society. Police officers work behind the scenes to safeguard national security and the lives and property of citizens. Their efforts have earned the recognition of the public. I wish to express a special word of thanks to the families of our colleagues for their support and encouragement. As the Force celebrates its 180th anniversary in 2024, we shall carry on as always, fearing no hardships, to serve Hong Kong with honour, duty and loyalty.