ENG-1968 — Page 220

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PUBLIC ORDER

disturbances. The rate of crime detection improved considerably and by the end of the year reached an all time high. The average rate of detection for the year was 75.6 per cent as compared with 67.8 per cent in 1967.

Despite the fact that there was no appreciable increase in reported crime, robberies rose by approximately 50 per cent over last year's figure, and larceny from vehicles rose by 20.6 per cent. Cases of loitering rose from 1,485 to 2,147, indicating vigilance by detectives and uniformed officers on the ground. A total of 11,616 persons were arrested compared with 11,501 in 1967.

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There was a welcome decrease in the number of prosecutions involving young persons (16 years-20 years) and juveniles (under 16 years). The former decreased by 14.3 per cent and the latter by 29.9 per cent.

One of the more spectacular cases during the year was the murder of an Indonesian woman and her child whose bodies were revealed bricked up in a wall during repairs to a Hong Kong flat. An Indonesian was later arrested and charged with murder in Indonesia. This case was marked by effective detective work and excellent co-operation between the police forces of Hong Kong and Indonesia.

The commercial crime office prosecuted several large scale forgery cases involving Philippine currency and British national health stamps. It also played a leading role in the smashing of a large international gold smuggling syndicate operating in the Far East, as a result of which one of the ringleaders was sentenced to four years' imprisonment.

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The Narcotics Bureau made some large seizures during the year, a total of 2594 lbs of morphine, 2,898 lbs of raw opium and 66 lbs 6 ozs of heroin being seized all together. The retail value of one of the largest seizures, which was made at Sai Kung in the New Territories in August, amounted to four million dollars. Helicopters were used in the search for the drugs.

A new Dangerous Drugs Bill, which was gazetted in November to operate from January 17, 1969, gives increased powers to police officers and officers of the Preventive Service to board and detain ships and aircraft entering the Colony. In addition, penalties for certain existing offences were increased and a new offence of trafficking in drugs was introduced.