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year was 3,219,063 and the fleet had an accident rate of one vehicle to every 21,178 miles covered.
Crime. There was a reduction in serious crime in 1957, with 18,992 cases reported as compared with a total of 22,587 cases in 1956. A very important factor contributing to this reduction was the preventative action being taken against the criminal secret societies, coupled with the effect of Police Supervision, under new and more comprehensive legislation on this subject introduced in 1956, on a large proportion of the criminal population.
The number of reports made to the police was 396,414, a decrease of 14,013 from the previous year; of this total 152,377 disclosed no criminal offence. The balance was made up of 18,992 serious offences, 11,007 or 58% of which resulted in arrest and prosecution, and 225,045 other offences not classified as serious which resulted in the conviction of 171,602 persons. The statistics of serious criminal offences are shown at Appendix XVIII.
Many of the offences investigated were committed by mem- bers of criminal secret societies, commonly known as Triads. Such persons are usually to be found amongst the baser criminal elements engaged in gambling, prostitution activi- ties, dealings in narcotic drugs, extortion and other forms of vice. It will be recalled that it was the Triads which were largely responsible for fomenting the serious public disorders in Kowloon and Tsuen Wan in 1956. Action against mem- bers of these societies continued through the year and was intensified during September and early October with the object of preventing any activity by these societies on the two national celebrations held on
celebrations held on 1st and 10th October respectively. During this particular period positive action was taken against 1,040 known members of these societies. By directing action against officials confusion was created within the societies, and many active members left the Colony in order to avoid arrest. In all, 1,887 persons were apprehended for membership of unlawful societies.