XN000022-1996-01-24 — Page 51

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For snatching, there were 22, 23, and 31 IIs arrested in the past three years respectively. These figures represent about 7.8%, 6.8% and 10% respectively of the total number of persons arrested for this crime during those years.

The number of IIs arrested for various types of theft (including pick- pocketing) has decreased from 227 in 1993 to 198 in 1994, but has increased slightly again to 208 in 1995. These figures represent about 1.5% of the total number of persons arrested for the crime in each of those three years. In the past three years, there were only 16 IIs arrested for pick-pocketing.

(b). We are concerned at the increase in the number of IIs involved in crimes like robbery, burglary and snatching, and are taking measures to tackle the problem. These measures fall into three main areas: prevention from entry, detection of those who evaded border control, and combating crime.

Prevention from Entry

We believe that the problem of II crimes is best solved at source; that is, by preventing Ils from entering Hong Kong. To this end, the Police have set up check- points at strategic locations along the border, and conducted vigilant patrols both on land and at sea. The Police and the Immigration Department also maintain regular liaison with the Chinese authorities to seek their co-operation in tightening border control on the Chinese side. At the latest round of Border Liaison Review Meeting held on the 22nd of this month, we conveyed our serious concern to the Guangdong side about the significant increase in crimes committed by Ils. The Chinese side has undertaken to co-operate in intercepting IIs in order to control the problem at source. In addition, the Police Anti Illegal Immigration Control Centre collects intelligence on Ils and the related criminal activities, such as the prevalent routings and methods of entry into Hong Kong. In the past two years, a total of 14 criminal cases were detected as a direct result of the intelligence provided by the Centre.

Detection

The Police, the Labour Department and the Immigration Department have frequently mounted territory-wide operations against IIs. They include identity-card checks, raids at work places such as construction sites and industrial buildings, hill side sweeps and other special locations where IIs are believed to be hiding.