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Public Order
The emergence of new drugs poses challenges to regulators and law enforcement agencies worldwide. The Narcotics Bureau works closely with other stakeholders to amend related legislation and devise effective intervention strategies.
Financial Investigation
The Joint Financial Intelligence Unit and the Financial Investigations Division combat money laundering and terrorist financing activities, while the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment Unit coordinates risk assessment exercises. In 2016, 100 persons were convicted of money laundering offences, with $240 million of criminal assets restrained and $9.7 million confiscated.
All three teams also took part in international conferences of the Financial Action Task Force and the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering.
Forensic Support
The Identification Bureau collects and compares fingerprints, examines firearms, takes photographs and gathers DNA evidence from crime scenes to support crime investigations and prosecutions. In 2016, fingerprint evidence linked 1,498 persons to 1,184 criminal cases.
Liaison
The Liaison Bureau is the designated contact point with law enforcement agencies on the Mainland and in Taiwan, Macao and overseas countries, communicating with their liaison officers stationed overseas or in Hong Kong for all police-related matters. It also operates as a sub-bureau of the Interpol National Central Bureau China in dealing with all Interpol-related matters in Hong Kong.
Counter Terrorism
The police monitor the global trends of terrorism closely and maintain frequent intelligence exchange with local and overseas law enforcement agencies. The force also enhances its ability to handle any terrorist incident by regularly reviewing the related orders and procedures as well as conducting joint training and exercises so as to be operationally ready at all times.
Traffic
In 2016, there were 16,099 traffic accidents involving casualties, with 2,379 cases involving serious injuries and 129 involving fatalities. The number of accidents involving casualties decreased 0.4 per cent and the number of accidents involving serious injuries or fatalities decreased 4.5 per cent compared with 2015.
Public Order Events
Hong Kong residents enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, procession and demonstration. In 2016, 13,158 public meetings and processions were held. The police are committed to handling all public order events in a fair, just and impartial manner in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong. In handling such events, the police ensure public order and safety is maintained while endeavouring to strike a balance between facilitating all lawful and
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