CHAPTER 18
Public Order
HONG KONG is one of the safest cities in the world. Although the overall crime rate in 1998 and 1999 showed a modest increase, the overall crime rate and the violent crime rate in 2000 decreased by 0.5 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively when compared with 1999. These two rates were, correspondingly, the third lowest and the second lowest in the past 27 years, and suggested a gradual improvement in the law and order situation.
The Government will continue to take vigorous action to maintain good law and order by:
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deploying additional police officers to perform front-line duties. Since 1993-94, 2 000 additional officers have been assigned to front-line operational duties, and a further 150 officers will be similarly deployed in 2000-01;
modernising the Police Force in terms of equipment and training as well as application of modern information technology to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the prevention and detection of crime;
strengthening the legal framework to provide the law enforcement agencies with adequate powers to combat crime; for example the bill which empowers law enforcement agencies to take intimate/non-intimate samples from suspects for DNA profiling was passed in June; and
enhancing co-operation with Mainland authorities and overseas law enforcement agencies to combat the increasing globalisation of criminal activities.
Fight Crime Committee
The Fight Crime Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, provides valuable advice and makes recommendations on measures to reduce crime. In 2000, the committee discussed specific crime-related issues such as measures against computer-related crimes and juvenile gangs, the Law Reform Commission's consultation paper on regulation of debt collection activities and the review of the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance submitted by the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau.
Having regard to the rising trend of computer-related crimes, the committee reviewed various measures taken against such crimes. While most of the computer- related crimes at present were relatively minor, the committee considered that organised crime groups' use of information technology to carry out illegal activities across national boundaries would present great challenges to law enforcement agencies.
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