PUBLIC ORDER
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Members of all 19 District Fight Crime Committees took part in a Fight Crime Conference in October. The conference provided an opportunity to reinforce the link between the committee and the district committees and to exchange views on crime-related
matters.
Police Force
Following a comparatively quiet opening to the year, a spate of major armed robberies and associated violence occurred in the three-month period between March and May. Groups of armed criminals, mainly from China, showed callousness and brutality previously unknown to Hong Kong. Firearms were discharged wantonly on crowded streets and hand grenades thrown at pursuing police officers. In one case, two victims were shot dead simply for failing to respond quickly enough.
This outbreak of violence at an unprecedented level, without any actual increase in the number of crimes, naturally attracted headline media coverage and calls from all levels of the community for effective response.
The police responded with a number of initiatives which rapidly brought the situation under control. Police presence on the street was reinforced with the redeployment of all available personnel. Stop and search operations were mounted to identify suspects.
Crime prevention publicity was stepped up. It targeted high risk premises such as jewellery shops.
The Force criminal intelligence system focussed on the identification of local organisers and drivers for the gangs of mainland criminals.
Perhaps most significantly, liaison with China was enhanced to unprecedented levels. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Li Kwan-ha, made a number of widely publicised visits to various parts of China, including Beijing and Guangzhou, and received full co-operation. Regular liaison at all levels between Hong Kong and Chinese police officers quickly developed to become the norm.
Among measures agreed early in the year was the appointment of two Chinese liaison officers to be stationed in Hong Kong to facilitate the flow of criminal investigation intelligence. As at year's end, the arrival date of the liaison officers had not been firmed up.
The problem of illegal immigrants from China was even greater than in 1991, as indicated by 40 per cent more arrests. Illegal immigration is a natural result of Hong Kong's geographical and economic circumstances, including a present shortage of labour; but in 1992 it was also fuelled by various rumours of a government amnesty, the arrival of the new Governor, and the impression that illegal work would be possible on the port and airport projects. Such impressions were also deliberately fostered by criminals organising the importation of illegal immigrants from the southern part of China, particularly for unscrupulous sectors of the building industry. This organised employment of illegal immigrants especially on building sites became more common in 1992 and has been tackled by various measures including sanctions on contractors who have allowed employment of illegal immigrants by their sub-contractors, and publicity and recruitment of more help from the legitimate workers, whose livelihood is most threatened, against illegal immigrant employment.
The problem of missing vehicles, particularly high-valued private cars, and their subsequent smuggling into China, remained a cause of concern throughout the year. This phenomenon was high on the agenda in liaison with mainland officials. Six vehicles were