Overall, crimes reported to the Police in 2023 totalled 90,276 cases, an increase of 20,228 (up 28.9%) compared with 2022 (70,048 cases). There were 10,122 cases of violent crimes, an increase of 1,292 (up 14.6%) compared with 2022 (8,830 cases). Deception (up 11,901 cases, up 42.6%) was the major factor for the rise in the overall number of crimes. Another factor was the low crime rate in 2022 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the return to normality in 2023, which resulted in a rebound of traditional crimes to pre-pandemic levels.
For every 100,000 people, 1,198 cases were reported, of which 134 were classified as violent crime, compared with 954 and 120 cases respectively in 2022. Detection rates for overall and violent crimes dropped by 4.1 and 3.3 percentage points to 31.1% and 52.1% respectively. The number of robberies and burglaries in 2023 was the second lowest since these statistics began to be recorded in 1969, while the detection rates of 82.5% and 37.4% were the highest and second highest respectively on record.
The Hong Kong Police Force is committed to combating deception. Apart from strengthening preventive publicity and education, the Force has been promoting collaboration among government departments and stakeholders via a multi-agency approach to formulate and mandate structural preventive measures, and to enhance intelligence-led enforcement action. The year saw the establishment of the Anti-Deception Alliance, which works with the e-Crime Processing and Analysis Hub and the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre to handle deception cases more effectively.
Organised Crime and Triads
The Organized Crime and Triad Bureau combats organised and serious crime and triad activities, including firearms and smuggling activities, through proactive, intelligence-led operations and investigations.
Between June and September, the Bureau, in conjunction with Guangdong and Macao Police, carried out tripartite anti-crime operation THUNDERBOLT 2023 to combat the illegal activities of triads and organised crimes, dismantle cross-border crimes and interdict criminals' sources of income.
During THUNDERBOLT, the Bureau, along with other police units and government agencies including the Immigration, Customs and Excise, Fire Services and Food and Environmental Hygiene departments, took action together against criminals. The authorities arrested 6,400 persons and seized a large amount of illegal items, such as gambling tools, assault weapons, cash suspected to be proceeds of crime worth more than $12 million, and drugs with a market value of about $350 million.
Criminal Intelligence
As the intelligence pivot of the Force, the Criminal Intelligence Bureau manages the Force's intelligence system and provides intelligence support to major operations and serious crime investigations. To foster intelligence-led policing across the Force, the Bureau strengthens the intelligence network, upgrades computer systems on intelligence analysis, facilitates effective flow of intelligence and provides professional training. The Bureau targets triads and sophisticated crime syndicates, and maintains close liaison with designated Mainland, Macao and overseas law enforcement intelligence agencies in the fight against transnational and cross-boundary crimes.
Commercial Crime
The Commercial Crime Bureau investigates complex commercial crimes, proactively co-operates with stakeholders and executes intelligence-led operations against syndicated commercial fraudsters. During the year, the Bureau continued to take stringent enforcement action against syndicated fraud pertaining to listed companies, fraudulent investment schemes, virtual asset trading, and scams exploiting the Government's pandemic relief measures, such as the Special 100% Loan Guarantee and Consumption Voucher Scheme. In addition, the Bureau co-ordinated two rounds of operations across the Force and arrested 67 persons in more than 200 telephone deception cases involving the loss of $179 million.
The Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC) plays a pivotal role in disrupting deception and raising public awareness of various scams. As at December 31, 2023, the Centre's Anti-Scam Helpline 18222 had received 196,799 public enquiry calls and helped intercept more than HK$12.5 billion of crime proceeds in 4,721 fraud cases since its launch in July 2017.
In November, the ADCC and 10 major retail banks joined forces to establish the Anti-Deception Alliance (ADA). Staff members from the ten participating banks were assigned to work alongside ADCC officers at the ADA centre to enable instant, direct and effective communication, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of stopping payment processing, facilitating immediate scam intervention, and accelerating intelligence exchange to expedite investigation and enforcement action.
The Fraud and Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce, established jointly with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) and other local financial institutions, draws on the expertise and capabilities of the banking industry in the fight against fraud and money laundering. Since its inception in May 2017, the Taskforce has enabled intelligence exchange in 231 cases and led to 129 arrest operations that apprehended 553 persons.
Participants sprinted ahead at the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre's West Kowloon CHILL RUN Winter Market cum Anti-Scam Charity Run, an innovative way of drawing attention to prevalent scams.
To raise efficiency and effectiveness in investigations, the Bureau launched a Bank Document Digitization System and a Bank Statement Conversion and Analysis System, both of which served to streamline the processes of obtaining digital documentary records from banks and conducting fund flow analyses and financial investigations. In September, the Bureau further rolled out an Electronic Stop-Payment System to offer a more efficient and streamlined means of submitting and processing requests to stop payments, thus reducing the administrative burden on both investigation and ADCC officers and enhancing the efficiency of the stop-payment mechanism. The Bureau will continue to optimise the systems to better support policing duties.
On the publicity and education front, the Bureau launched Project SILVERSHIELD to enhance scam prevention education through interactive channels. The project included conducting anti-fraud campaigns at public and private institutions, and forming an outreach cadre of SILVERSHIELD Ambassadors to reach the community, particularly the elderly. The project followed the theme, 'Scams are rampant, tell everyone!', to harness residents' sense of alertness so they would raise the vigilance of their immediate circle of friends, colleagues and family to scams.
The ADCC launched a publicity campaign titled 'Thumbs Up! Don't Click!' to educate the public about the right ways of dealing with suspicious text messages. It also collaborated with the Office of the Communications Authority and mobile network operators to disseminate the same message during the campaign.
E-Crime Processing and Analysis Hub
The e-Crime Processing and Analysis Hub (e-Hub), established in September 2022, is a one-stop platform comprising three functions, namely receipt of reports, case analysis and referral. It can shorten the processing time of technology crime and deception-related e-reports effectively and, in collaboration with the ADCC, enhance effectiveness in handling cases.
Cyber Security and Technology Crime
The Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau combats technology crime and maintains the security of Hong Kong's cyberspace by partnering with the community as well as local and overseas stakeholders.
In February, the Bureau launched mobile application Scameter+ following the rollout of Scameter, a scam and pitfall search engine, on the CyberDefender website last year. By year's end, the app had accumulated more than 200,000 downloads, successfully assisting people in assessing fraud and cyber security risks when they carried out online transactions. Meanwhile, the Scameter had accumulated searches exceeding two million, among which over 16% of the search targets were scam-related.
To further utilise the Scameter, the Bureau co-operated with the HKMA and banking industry to launch a Faster Payment System (FPS) Suspicious Proxy ID Alert mechanism in November. This initiative integrated the Scameter's database with the HKMA's FPS platform, so as to better alert users to fraud risks before they made a transaction.
The Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau linked the Scameter database to the FPS as a reminder that users should beware of scams when conducting transactions using FPS proxy identities.
The Bureau executed multiple intelligence-led operations against e-shopping fraud, online investment fraud, phishing attacks, online employment fraud and online account hijacking fraud, making 116 arrests in 1,475 cases involving an aggregate loss of $40 million.
To curb the surge in technology crime effectively, the Bureau introduced 'Project Crimes of Hi-tech Elements Revamp and Enhancement' (COHERE) to establish dedicated technology crime investigation teams in all five land regions. Since January 2022, Regional Technology and Financial Crime Units and District Technology and Financial Crime Squads have been operating in four of the land regions, while Hong Kong Island Region is anticipated to implement the same in April 2024.
To cater for policing needs in the digital age, the Bureau's new Digital Forensics Complex began operation in July. The complex links up Digital Forensics Laboratories in the land regions and deploys innovative technologies, so as to enhance collaboration effectiveness and data analytic capabilities to achieve more efficient analysis.
In terms of public education, the Bureau conducted several online and physical crime prevention publicity initiatives for people from all walks of life, actively promoting scam prevention and cyber security awareness. Initiatives included the CyberDefenders' Carnival, the CyberDefender Metaverse platform, the BugHunting Campaign, the Greater Bay Area Youth Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security Challenge, and train-the-trainer workshops for teachers.
Narcotics
The Narcotics Bureau combats drug trafficking and the flow of dangerous drugs into Hong Kong by collaborating with stakeholders and overseas law enforcement agencies, while at the same time promoting awareness of drug abuse by partnering with stakeholders in the local community.
Intelligence-led operations carried out in the year resulted in the arrest of 114 persons and the seizure of 3.2 tonnes of illicit drugs.
As an initiative to promote the anti-drugs message through youth power, the Leadership Institute on Narcotics (L.I.O.N.), established in 2021, recruits 100 secondary and university students as mentees every year. Through participation in a series of training, visits and other activities, the programme aims to equip mentees with anti-drugs knowledge while developing their leadership skills. Mentees also have the chance to engage in Mainland and overseas exchange programmes. In 2023, they successfully disseminated anti-drugs messages to 30,000 peers and residents.
Throughout the year, the Bureau held events to promote the message, 'Drugs? Never ever!', and to raise awareness, particularly among the youth, about the harmful effects of drugs. The new I Do Know Interactive Anti-Drugs Drama used interesting ways of delivering anti-drugs messages to more than 5,500 primary school students. Training was also provided to primary and secondary schoolteachers on how to impart anti-drugs knowledge using a newly designed educational package.
For the first time, the Narcotics Bureau presented the I Do Know Interactive Anti-Drugs Drama to primary school students by engaging a professional drama team, staging 40 shows between April and October that reached more than 5,500 people.
During the annual Anti-Drugs Campaign between September and November, a two-day exhibition, Love Our Life – LOL Party 2023, was held at the West Kowloon Cultural District, attracting more than 11,000 visitors. This year's LOL party encouraged people to refuse drugs by practising positive thinking, through exciting activities that included innovative game booths created by L.I.O.N. mentees, stage performances, fitness outreach and the sharing of positive values by rehabilitated drug users and experts. A drone performance was showcased over Victoria Harbour on the first night.
Exciting activities abounded at the anti-drugs event, Love Our Life – LOL Party 2023, at the West Kowloon Cultural District in November, including innovative game booths, fitness outreach and a drone show unfolding over Victoria Harbour that featured the Narcotics Bureau's mascot.
Financial Intelligence and Investigation
The surge in deception has led to more associated money laundering (ML) activities under an increasing trend of digitised ML techniques and the use of 'stooge accounts'.
The Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (FIIB), comprising the Financial Investigation Division (FID), the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit (JFIU) and the Headquarters (HQ), adopts a proactive and all-round approach to strengthen the Force's anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) capabilities in the face of the challenge.
The FID proactively conducts financial investigations and pursues asset recovery from ML syndicates. In 2023, the efforts of the FID and other investigative units resulted in 205 convictions in court for ML, a total of $169 million restrained and $15 million confiscated. The FID also collaborated with the Department of Justice to streamline the prosecution process for ML cases and, in line with the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, to apply for stronger sentences in cases involving 'stooge accounts'.
The JFIU deters ML and terrorist financing (TF) by fostering co-operation with local and international agencies to exchange financial intelligence. In 2023, it processed and analysed 97,577 suspicious transaction reports, a 42% increase compared with 2022.
The Financial Intelligence Evaluation Sharing Tool (FINEST), a new platform maintained by the JFIU with the support of the HKMA and HKAB, was launched in June to allow participating banks to share information among the banking industry so as to detect and disrupt fraud and mule account networks in a more proactive and effective manner.
The HQ works closely with other local AML/CFT stakeholders and international counterparts on policy and legislative matters, ML and TF risk assessment across Hong Kong, and training. In 2023, the FIIB, alongside Singapore and INTERPOL, co-led a project initiated by the global Financial Action Task Force to tackle cyber-enabled fraud by strengthening intelligence and knowledge exchange. In December, it organised an International Financial Investigation Course for more than 40 delegates from overseas jurisdictions and local counterparts to discuss AML/CFT issues in a global and local context.
In addition, the FIIB educates the public through regular AML publicity campaigns, stakeholder and public engagement, and promotional videos.
The Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau signed an MOU with the President of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants at a virtual ceremony.
The Money Laundering Expert Cadre (MLEC) supports the front line in financial investigations, gives expert evidence in court and applies to the courts for heavier sentences in ML cases. To ensure the credibility and professionalism of the Cadre, the MLEC Training Course was accredited with Hong Kong Qualifications Framework Level 5, which is equivalent to a bachelor's degree qualification. In April, the FIIB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, establishing a comprehensive framework and pathway for the institute to provide professional training to officers on forensic accounting and investigation, digital forensics, financial crime and professional ethics.
Liaison Bureau
The Liaison Bureau supports communication with stakeholders and strategic partners in the areas of fighting crime and intelligence sharing on criminal activities. It co-ordinates meetings, including high-level exchanges with international strategic partners and working-level conversations, to cope with cross-border investigative needs. The Bureau strives to maintain an effective partnership with Mainland, Macao and foreign law enforcement agencies. In terms of training, the Bureau works with Mainland authorities and INTERPOL to train members of the Force on the latest crime trends and police tactics.
Crime Prevention
The Crime Prevention Bureau adopts a multi-pronged approach to promote crime prevention. In May, it launched a new website, SafeCity.HK, and appointed 47 SafeCity Ambassadors. SafeCity.HK serves as a one-stop platform providing the latest crime prevention tips and knowledge. SafeCity Ambassadors receive crime alerts from the Police on a weekly basis and help fight crime by disseminating these messages through their respective organisations and networks – reaching more than 2.1 million people by December. The Bureau also provides professional security advice to private and public entities, security companies and property management companies. It conducts a Standard Crime Prevention Course to enhance officers' professional knowledge through exchanges with external working partners on the latest crime prevention technologies.
Forensic Support
The Identification Bureau provides services on professional fingerprint examination, firearms-related forensics, DNA collection and photography to the Force and other law enforcement agencies.
Criminal Records
The Criminal Records Bureau provides support 24 hours a day to frontline officers and other government departments in relation to information on the Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System. To enhance operational efficiency and optimise internal processes, the Bureau is digitalising the workflow using technology.
Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit
The Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit formulates and implements the Force's policies and procedures regarding child abuse, elderly abuse, domestic violence, sexual violence and other offences, to ensure effective, co-ordinated and professional police action. The unit works closely with government departments and non-governmental organisations on multidisciplinary procedures, interagency co-operation, training and co-ordination within its policy areas.
In the third year of the Police's 'Let's T.A.L.K' Child Protection Campaign, the Unit rolled out the Virtual Run Challenge, the 'Dress Casual – Show Your Care' Post Design Competition, the Metaverse Exhibition and an improved Child Protection WebApp in collaboration with the Commission on Children, the Social Welfare Department and the Community Chest to raise awareness of child protection.
The Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit organised a Virtual Run Challenge dedicated to child protection and set a world record for the most participants.
The Unit constantly seeks to improve procedures for child abuse cases, so as to expedite investigations, prosecutions and follow-up welfare. The Vulnerable Witness and Child Protection Task Force, together with the Department of Justice and the Social Welfare Department, has handled more than 100 cases since its establishment in early 2022. At the same time, the voluntary Vulnerable Witness Support Cadre has assisted frontline teams in handling over 1,700 cases involving children and individuals with mental incapacity, since July 2022, and has conducted more than 1,900 video-recorded interviews.
Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support
The Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support System (MIIDSS) provides support to the Force's units and to government departments. By handling, managing and analysing vast amounts of data and crime information in complex incidents, the system enhances the effectiveness of crime investigation and major disaster support.
Witness Protection
The Witness Protection Unit conducts witness protection programmes. In addition, it provides victims and vulnerable persons who are susceptible to serious crimes with safety advice and the assurance of personal well-being.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau carries out bomb disposal duties, including the safe disposal of homemade improvised explosive devices, chemical precursors and conventional munition. In 2023, the Bureau conducted a series of convention munition disposal operations in the vicinity of the Castle Peak Range and disposed of more than 150 pieces of unexploded ordnance from the colonial era, ensuring the safety of residents and hikers in the neighbourhood.
Training at Police Tactical Unit Headquarters
The Police Tactical Unit Headquarters (PTU HQ) undertakes comprehensive reviews of tactics and their application. To enhance the operational efficiency and confidence of police officers in national security, public events, major incidents, counter-terrorism response, rural search-and-rescue and other emergencies, the PTU HQ incorporates the Force's technologies and digital applications into training and exercises.
Trainers adopt the Force's technologies and digital applications, including the use of the 3-R solutions of R-Watch, R-Cam and R-Map in rural search-and-rescue exercises.
By examining threats that are emerging worldwide, the PTU HQ conducts timely reviews, makes appropriate assessments and adjustments to internal training programmes, and co-operates closely with government departments and private organisations to hold knowledge and experience exchanges, joint training and thematic exercises. To bolster the confidence and ability of officers in coping with diverse challenges, the PTU HQ added real-life scenarios to exercises using advanced technology, such as Scenario-based Interactive Multiplayer Simulation (SIMS) training and the use of small unmanned aircraft. PTU training also emphasises the practical policing knowledge required for handling different scenarios, in particular the appropriate application of the National Security Law, to raise the confidence and support of all sectors of society in the Police Force.
Special Duties
The Special Duties Unit is the definitive armed tactical intervention unit of the Force. Trained in land, sea and air capabilities, the Unit specialises in handling terrorist attacks, hostage taking and armed criminal activities.
The Special Duties Unit conducts exercises to maintain operational readiness.
Major Incidents
The Major Incidents Bureau oversees the Force's overall strategy and specific policies on the policing of terrorism and major incidents, and audits the Force's preparedness and response capabilities for such incidents. The Bureau comprises four divisions, namely the Counter Terrorism and Internal Security Division, Exercise and Audit Division, Major Events Planning Division and Police Public Engagement Office.
Counter-terrorism and Internal Security Policies
The Counter Terrorism and Internal Security Division formulates, implements and reviews the Force's policies and orders relating to counter-terrorism and internal security. The Division monitors global and domestic terrorism trends, refines counter-terrorism strategies in a timely fashion, and formulates corresponding action plans. It also works with government departments and private organisations to enhance public vigilance.
The Counter Terrorism Response Unit takes part in anti-terror drills.
To ensure the highest standards of preparedness, the Division regularly co-ordinates and conducts counter-terrorism exercises involving relevant units and departments based on prevailing trends of terrorism. The Counter Terrorism Response Unit, which operates under the Division, is strategically deployed to protect critical infrastructure, sensitive premises and the railway system, and to ensure a rapid and effective response to any terrorist incidents.
Inter-departmental Counter-terrorism Collaboration
Public support and participation are crucial in any effective counter-terrorism (CT) effort. The Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit places great emphasis on involving the public, and promotes public education initiatives on counter-terrorism and the message of a safe community through collaboration among the Unit's member departments and various sectors.
In April, the Unit held Safe Community Fun Day at the Hong Kong Science Park and engaged with the public through a diverse range of interesting booths. In June, in tandem with the first anniversary of the CT Reporting Hotline 63-666-999, the Unit launched the Safe Community WeChat Mini Programme as an additional reporting channel to make it more convenient for the public to spot and report suspicious activities. In October, the Safe Community Hub was launched as Hong Kong's first CT-themed experience centre. It allows the public to gain important CT knowledge through interactive experiences, thus achieving a whole-of-community approach in fighting terrorism.
Safe Community Fun Day was a key event to mark the Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit's fifth anniversary and delivered safety messages through interactive experiences.
Exercise and Audit
The Exercise and Audit Division is the Force's policy unit steering and auditing operational capabilities for public events and major incident policing, and acts as the secretariat of the Command Cadre. The Division also reviews the policies and operational procedures of Emergency Units, co-ordinates the deployment of Special Constables and explores training opportunities for commanding officers.
Major Event Planning and Co-ordination
When the Force formulates operational plans for major events, the Major Events Planning Division performs a co-ordinating role to ensure effective communication among senior management, police formations, organisers and other stakeholders in the public and private sectors. Since the full resumption to normalcy, the government has spared no effort in staging and supporting more international mega events. The Division engages with organisers and stakeholders and co-ordinates among major police formations to ensure events are conducted under effective planning and in a safe, orderly and secure manner.
The National Day fireworks display called for Police to monitor the crowds and ensure public safety.
Public Engagement
To ensure the orderly and smooth running of public events, the Police Public Engagement Office strategically engages with stakeholders and event organisers to facilitate communication and enhance mutual understanding among all involved parties.
Operations Command and Control
The Operations Bureau oversees the Force's operational matters, liaises with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison, plans and executes search operations and develops the future command and control communications system. The Bureau comprises the Operations Division, the PTU Operational Contingents, the Fourth Generation of Command and Control Communications System Special Duties Team and the Key Points and Search Division, which includes the Police Dog Unit.
Operations Management and Liaison
The Operations Division operates the Headquarters Command and Control Centre round the clock and deals with the formulation of the Force's operational orders, policies concerning boundary security and illegal immigration, allocation of operational resources, and liaison with the PLA Hong Kong Garrison. It also oversees the policing policy of major cross-boundary infrastructure and city development projects.
The Division serves as the Force's contact point with other government bureaux and departments for the planning and co-ordination of joint departmental operations, and holds policy reviews on operational matters across the territory, to ensure operational effectiveness and efficiency.
Fourth Generation of Command and Control Communications
The Fourth Generation of Command and Control Communications System Special Duties Team plans, co-ordinates and prepares the development of the Force's command and control system. The development involves enhancing the system for the deployment of police resources, and upgrading the Emergency Telephone System and police radio system. To improve digital policing, the mobile application Beat App allows frontline officers to conduct record checks on people, vehicles and vessels using the Force's smartphones. The application has successfully replaced and digitalised the traditional stop-and-search enquiry process, alleviating the tremendous workload at police console operations and shortening the waiting time of individuals being stopped.
Critical Infrastructure Protection
The Critical Infrastructure Security Coordination Centre conducts security walkthrough assessments for critical infrastructures, provides round-the-clock comprehensive support to stakeholders, and assists in formulation of security strategies and contingency measures. The Centre is committed to enhancing critical infrastructure protection and resilience through public-private partnership, risk management, Security-by-Design and recovery planning. The Centre regularly participates in renowned security conferences and strengthens liaison with Mainland and overseas institutes to benchmark professional and international standards. Apart from ensuring the safety of critical infrastructures, the Centre has also launched the first Critical Infrastructure Protection Course for counter-terrorism units and disciplined services to raise awareness of safeguarding critical infrastructures.
Search Operations and Key Facility Protection
The Key Points and Search Division formulates strategies and policies on venue searches and security screening, the protection of crucial facilities and the deployment of police drones and police dogs. In 2023, the Division continued to help secure major events to ensure a safe and orderly process.
The Police Dog Unit comes under the command of the Division and keeps more than 200 trained dogs for patrol, drug detection and the search of arms, ammunition and explosives. To enhance counter-terrorism readiness, the Police Dog Unit Quick Response Team is strategically deployed with other tactical units to strengthen patrols at critical infrastructure and sensitive premises, and to ensure a rapid and effective response to any potential terrorist activities.
The Police Dog Unit conducted a defensive search on National Security Education Day.
High-level Command
The Command Cadre comprises a selected pool of highly trained Strategic and Operational Commanders who are capable of taking charge of significant operational command tasks. Members of the Cadre receive regular training in different fields to ensure their commanding capabilities are maintained at the highest level of readiness.
Professional Support in Scale Modelling
The Briefing Support Unit is an integral part of the Force's counter-terrorism response capabilities. It constructs scale models to support operational planning, post-incident investigations and court proceedings. The Unit consists of 28 officers who serve on a voluntary basis and have received formal training in the interpretation of plans and drawings, model building and 3D modelling.
Special Escort Duties
In 2023, the Force Escort Group recorded 3,016 man-days in 130 mobilisations to escort VIPs and the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, as well as to transport arms and ammunition, valuable property and prisoners requiring special security measures. The Group also participated in engagement initiatives and year-round police recruitment events to reach out to the community.
Rope Access
Under the motto 'Attitude Drives Altitude', the Force Rope Access Cadre renders round-the-clock support to frontline units engaged in policing tasks at unusual locations, and provides professional advice to frontline commanders on policing matters related to working at height. Cadre members receive regular professional training and participate in overseas exchanges to maintain specialised access capabilities and the highest level of readiness.
The Force Rope Access Cadre strives to reach new heights through constant local training and overseas exchanges.
Professional Negotiation
The Police Negotiation Cadre consists of 108 members who are on standby 24 hours a day as a secondary duty to their main policing functions. The Cadre is equipped with crisis intervention capabilities and can be deployed to handle terrorist and hostage incidents, to intervene in attempted suicides and to manage negotiations at major public events. All members share the common values of passion, nobility and commitment, aimed at saving lives and resolving crises.
The Cadre conducts regular negotiation training and joint exercises with key stakeholders within and outside the Force, and takes part in international conferences and training programmes. In view of the impact of society's full resumption to normalcy on mental health, the Cadre organises crisis management and suicide intervention workshops for members of the civil service system, social workers, mental health professionals, school principals and educational psychologists.
TANGO Company
Comprising only female officers, the TANGO Company was initially formed in 1992 to facilitate the repatriation of women and children in Vietnamese refugee camps. Nowadays, the TANGO Company is often deployed in public events and security operations to assist in security screening and crowd management or to handle radical female protesters at the forefront.
Police Licensing Office
The Police Licensing Office issues licences and permits, processes the registration of societies, and reviews and implements licensing policies. In addition, the Office facilitates the work of other licensing authorities and co-ordinates the Force's policy on public order events.
Following the full launch of online application and e-payment services for eight types of licences and permits in July 2022, the Licensing Office incorporated the iAM Smart function into the Hong Kong Police Licensing System in September 2023. The Office aims to fully digitalise licensing services in 2024 through a newly developed mobile application that will issue electronic licences and permits and provide the FPS function for users to pay service fees.
The Licensing Office also helps frontline officers handle public order events by providing policy-related opinions to ensure that public order events are conducted in a peaceful, safe, orderly and lawful manner.
Occupational Safety and Health
The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Cadre trains members of the Force on risk assessment, risk management and OSH incident investigation. Its goal is to achieve compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance across the Force. In 2023, the Cadre provided training that led to OSH qualifications for 165 members of the Force, and gave safety induction training to more than 700 new recruits at the Police College. The Cadre also arranged refresher training for more than 500 members of the Force.
Animal Watchers Programme
To combat crimes against animals, the Police implement the Animal Watchers Programme (AWP) proactively to pool together the efforts of animal lovers at the community level and raise awareness of preventing cruelty to animals.
In 2023, the Programme launched a series of educational and promotional activities under the theme, 'Synergy for Great'. Events included the AWP Adventure King Summer Camp, Life-wide Animal Care College and 'Hang-in-there' Charity Challenge. The charity challenge drew more than 1,100 participants and raised $100,000 for the animal organisation, Hong Kong Homeless Dog Shelter. They also set a world record for the 'Most People Participating in a Relay Hang-on'.
The AWP's 'Hang-in-there' Charity Challenge enlisted the help of the Police Bodybuilding and Powerlifting Club to demonstrate and join the challenge with residents.
Public Relations
Since its upgrade, the Public Relations Wing (PR Wing) has been continuously exploring new channels to communicate with the public, enabling society to have a better understanding of police work and fostering mutual trust, thereby significantly enhancing transparency.
The Force Media Liaison Cadre, established for eight years, serves as a bridge between the Police and the media. Following its restructuring and reduction from 310 to 240 members, the Cadre held an annual refresher training. Experts were invited to train the Cadre on media handling and alertness to media facilitation.
In 2023, the Cadre handled over 300 stand-up briefings. With social and economic activities returning to full normalcy, international events and competitions had resumed, resulting in the Cadre's mobilisation to handle the media in more than 120 security operations.
The Force set up three new social media channels during the year, namely, the Xiaohongshu account, the Whatsapp Channel and the Douyin platform, adding to the six official accounts that were already up and running, to enhance engagement with the public in Hong Kong, Mainland China and other regions, particularly the younger generation. The Force also hoped to enable more effective dissemination of anti-scam and anti-crime messages, showcase its positive image and share its good stories with the public.
The PR Wing makes use of the revamped fortnightly staff magazine OffBeat as a platform to promote community engagement and expand its reach to the media and the public. Additionally, two thematic issues of the OffBeat special edition were published, namely the 50th Anniversary of OffBeat Commemorative Special Edition and Your Mind Believes, Your Body Achieves – Interviews with Outstanding Athletes of the Force. These publications further contributed to highlighting the professional image of the Force.
Given the significant increase in fraud, the PR Wing produced four issues of the anti-scam publication, The Little Grape Paper, and distributed them through two local free newspapers and community networks. A total of 1.35 million copies were handed out to enhance public awareness of scams.
The PR Wing published the anti-scam publication The Little Grape Paper with a total distribution of 1.35 million copies.
In addition, the PR Wing revamped the 22-minute live programme OffBeat On Air, converting it to a new six-minute pre-recorded online programme called OffBeat 360. It was launched on November 1 for broadcast at 6pm every Wednesday on the Force's Facebook and YouTube social media channels, aiming to present a 360-degree view of crime and fraud prevention, and to tell inspiring stories about the Force. Apart from online streaming, the short videos in the new programme were distributed to partners, including local television stations, and to more than 1,500 physical screens for offline viewing. A new infotainment programme, Offbeat 120s, was also launched to introduce the work of police units and recent crime cases to raise audiences' crime prevention awareness.
The Prequel fully illustrates how frontline officers serve tirelessly to safeguard Hong Kong, in a half-hour narration spanning land, air and sea.
The award-winning promotional video, Guarding Our City with Faith – The Prequel, was the Force's second production in collaboration with renowned director Mr Dante Lam after the release of the highly acclaimed Guarding Our City with Faith in 2021. It premiered in June, recording a reach of more than 172 million from the Force's social media platforms and other media. The Prequel narrates the whole process of the Police's arrest of the leader of a terrorist group 48 hours before the hostage-taking incident in Guarding Our City with Faith. It is hoped that, with the Emergency Unit in action throughout the storyline, members of the public can get a realistic feel of the challenges faced by frontline officers who are on duty round the clock. Filming of the 30-minute video captured footage over land, air and sea, involving the efforts of more than 900 people. In addition to regular officers, members of the Auxiliary Police Force and Junior Police Call, family members of the officers, and Recruitment Spokespersons were invited to take part in the production to reflect the Force's motto, 'Serving Hong Kong with Honour, Duty and Loyalty'.
Connecting with the Community
The PR Wing strengthens its work with young people through the Junior Police Call (JPC) Scheme. Using a cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach, it joins hands with various sectors to nurture upright youth leaders and crime-fighting partners.
Under the strategy IDEAS@JPC, members are encouraged to upgrade themselves and enhance their competence through participation in activities under the five core areas of innovation, discipline, exposure, adventure and synergy. As the epidemic subsided and life returned to normal, the JPC organised more than 45 exchange tours to the Mainland during the year, enabling more than 1,700 of its members to learn about the culture and history of the motherland in person, experience the country's robust technological developments and exchange ideas and learn from youth across the border.
JPC members visited the Longgang Junior Police Camp in Shenzhen on an exchange programme in March.
JPC@PH officers led JPC members to join a training camp in Foshan, the first exchange between the Hong Kong Police Force and the Guangdong Police cadet school.
Locally, the PR Wing launched the first JPC Summer Internship Programme to provide members with learning opportunities at the Force and industry partners so that they could experience working life in the real world and lay a foundation for the planning and development of their lives and careers. The JPC Annual Parade resumed, in which members in the new JPC uniform demonstrated their team spirit, discipline and perseverance through a Chinese-style foot drill.
More than 100 primary and secondary schools took part in the JPC Chinese Flag-raising Competition 2023 to enhance the sense of national identity of the young.
In addition, the PR Wing and the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association jointly organised the Anti-Scam & Fight Crime Ambassador Programme. A total of 73 leaders of the Girl Guides completed the training and were awarded trainer certificates. They would be responsible for training Anti-Scam & Fight Crime Ambassadors, who will reach out to the community and remind their friends and relatives not to become victims.
Since its establishment in early 2020, the Force Working Group on Community Engagement has been striving to build rapport with young people and strengthen public trust in the Police. It also works hand in hand with youth workers to promote awareness of abiding by the law. Half-yearly meetings are held with the chairpersons of the associations of heads of schools and the Federations of Parent-teacher Associations (PTAs) in the 18 districts, chaired by the Commissioner and the Director of Operations. Attendance at every meeting comprised about 20 chairpersons from each of the two associations, the District Commanders and Police Community Relations Officers of the Districts, as well as officers from the Crime Wing and the PR Wing.
To prevent youth-related crimes and provide coping strategies, the PR Wing published 50,000 copies of the Youth Crime Prevention Booklet (2023 Edition) during the year. The booklet was distributed to more than 1,100 primary and secondary schools and other educational institutions. The PR Wing also collaborated with its working partners to produce a series of short videos on youth crime prevention that explained in a down-to-earth way the serious consequences of breaking the law.
The Senior Police Call (SPC), established in 2014, upholds the motto, 'SPC Spirit of Helping Oneself and Others'. It is committed to disseminating crime prevention and road safety messages to the elderly and encouraging them to participate in meaningful activities. Through the activities of SPC Captains and SPC Home Visit Captains and the SPC Anti-investment Scam Ambassadors Course, the SPC provides its members with knowledge of cyber pitfalls, the modus operandi of the latest deception methods, smart wealth management and road safety. It is expected that upon completion of the training, they will be able to become trainers to help police districts organise activities and visit single elderly residents to spread police messages.
The Good Citizen Award (GCA) Scheme celebrated its 50th anniversary and the PR Wing launched a publicity campaign that included holding a grand award presentation ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) with live-streaming. Five GCA roving exhibitions were also displayed at large shopping centres of different Regions throughout the year to spread stories of good citizens and their positive spirit, inspiring the public and the next generation in particular, and raising overall awareness of abiding by the law.
The Good Citizen Award 2022 cum 50th Anniversary Presentation Ceremony recognised the stories and positive spirit of its inspiring winners at HKCEC in February.
The roving exhibition attracted more than 50,000 citizens across the Regions, spreading the spirit of being a good citizen and awareness of abiding by the law.
Road Safety
In 2023, the number of traffic accidents involving fatalities and serious injuries decreased by 39 to 1,096 (down 3%) compared with 2022, while the number of fatal traffic accidents increased by seven to 96 (up 8%). The Force practises a multi-agency '3E' approach, namely Engineering, Engagement and Enforcement, and works with other government departments to actively explore the use of technology to achieve more efficient traffic enforcement so as to realise the road safety vision, 'Zero Accidents on the Road, Hong Kong's Goal'.
Frontline Auxiliary Support
The Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force is a well-trained emergency manpower reserve for internal security and civil emergencies and a support to the regular force in frontline duties. It maintains an establishment of 4,501 members. In the financial year 2022-2023, a total of 343 new recruits were taken on strength, the highest in the last 20 years. To meet operational needs, an average of 700 members were deployed per day.
The summer of 2023 saw 80 undergraduate students join the Auxiliary Police Force and successfully complete the 370-hour intensive training programme. Their enthusiasm and participation exemplified the student community's support for policing work.
The Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force Headquarters hosted the yearly Auxiliary Undergraduate Scheme Buddy Day in August. Friends and relatives of the new recruits were invited to experience the diverse daily duties and training of auxiliary officers.