XN000022-1996-11-27 — Page 21

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Measures to tackle crimés relating to counterfeit banknotes

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Law Cheung-kwok and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council of:

(a)

(b)

(c)

the number of cases involving the use of counterfeit banknotes in each of the past three years; as well as the amount of money involved in each of these cases;

the methods used by the offenders in the above cases, and the main nationalities of such offenders; and

the measures in place to combat crimes involving the use of counterfeit banknotes, and the effectiveness of such measures?

Reply:

Mr President,

(a)

In 1993, there were 1863 reported cases involving the use of 5813 counterfeit banknotes, with a face value of approximately $3.07 million Hong Kong dollars. In 1994, there were 1984 such cases, and the number of counterfeit notes involved was 7509 with an approximate face value of $4.41 million Hong Kong dollars. As for 1995, the number of cases was 2100, involving 5657 notes with an approximate face value of $3.33 million Hong Kong dollars. These figures represent cases reported to the Police by banks and members of the public; most of these cases have no criminal element involved. There was only one criminal casc cach in 1993 and 1995 involving the use of counterfeit banknotes with a face value of HKD7,000 and USD43,500 respectively. The vast majority of those who use counterfeit banknotes do so without knowing that they are faked notes; they are in effect the victims.

Apart from seizing the counterfeit notes in use in the reported cases, the Police also take proactive seizure operations. The total number of counterfeit notes seized in each of the past three years was 93,167 in 1993, 17,045 in 1994 and 9,348 in 1995. The approximate face value of these notes in Hong Kong dollar terms was $72 million in 1993, $13 million in 1994 and $7.26 million in 1995.