TNAG-1733-FCO40-2446-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 25

Revised

Unlawful

stolen St

use of credit cards

JP

Question No

Nos

Reply by the Hon G.T.Barnes Sacretary for Security, to a question by

the Hon YEUNG PO-kwan, BE, CRM, JP. the Legislative Coune2 un 22 Jude 1988

3. MR. YEUNG asked:

Question:

Since the use of credit cards is becoming

· increasingly popular, will Government inform this Council whether there has been a rising trend of unlawful use of stolen credit cards in recent years and what steps will be taken to prevent or reduce the resulting loss to banks?

سو

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY:

sic,

In the last five years, the number of cases reported to the police of the unlawful use of stolen credit cards has

of declined from 138 in 1983 to 53 in 1987. Based on reports in the first three months of 1988, there will be an estimated 48 cases this year. But these figures must be viewed with caution. The police believe that a' substantial number of

stolen credit cards are used in Hong Kong without reports ever

being made to them,

の

The Counterfeit and Forgery Division of the Commercial Crime

Bureau keeps in close touch with senior officials in local credit and charge card companies in order to keep abreast of developments in credit card crime and to minimise the

opportunities for criminals. In 1987 and early 1988, the

Je pivision, working closely with local and overseas card issuing

I

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