TNAG-2055-FCO40-2933-Crime-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 28

Mr Paul

PS/Lord Caithness

FROM: G Coglin

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 25 September 1990

cc: Mr Stone

COMPARISON OF CRIME STATISTICS BETWEEN ENGLAND/WALES AND

HONG KONG

1.

Before his visit to Hong Kong, Lord Caithness requested

a comparison of crime statistics between the UK and Hong Kong. In practice such a comparison is difficult to make as

different police forces breakdown crime statistics in

varying ways. At Annex A, I have attempted a comparison of

figures for the most serious offences but in some respects

this demonstrates the difficulties of making a direct (and

accurate) correlation.

2.

Overall in both England/Wales and Hong Kong, crime figures have increased in the period 1987-9. The exception

is the number of recorded/reported drug offences which have

risen in England/Wales but fallen in Hong Kong. In 1989 in Hong Kong there were 82,000 reported crimes, an increase of

3.3% overall. Violent crime showed some substantial

increases. Upward trends include the use of firearms in

crime, crimes committed by under 21s and violent crimes

involving juveniles. In England/Wales there were 3,760,200 reported crimes. In general the overall level of crime in Hong Kong is considerably lower than the UK. A striking

exception however, is murder and manslaughter. In 1989

England and Wales (1989 population 50,562.5 m) there were

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