Question No. 10
Reply by the Secretary for Security to a question by the Hon. CHEUNG Yan-lung, MBE, SB St J, JP, in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, 3 April 1985
Question:
Can Government make a statement on the level of crimes committed recently involving the use of stolen credit cards? What actions are being taken to combat these offences?
Reply:
Sir,
In 1983, 138 cases involving the use of lost or stolen credit cards were reported. In 1984, there were 77 cases.
In the first two months of 1985 there were ten. The total value
of the property misappropriated was $1.01 million in 1983,
$0.98m in 1984 and $51,000 in the first two months of 1985.
I must be careful in answering the second part of Mr. CHEUNG's question not simply to provide stealers of credit cards with a guide on how to use them. But I can say that the police have been encouraging the credit card companies to improve their crime prevention measures. Through the regular liaison that exists between the police and these companies the police are encouraging them to improve the security of their systems
-
by insisting on shops, restaurants and so forth obliging card users to produce an identity card or passport before a transaction is conducted;
by using plain envelopes rather than those with the company name emblazoned on them when sending cards by post.