ENG-2010 — Page 373

Public Order | 315

kilogrammes of precursor chemicals were seized in the Mainland or overseas. A total of five illicit drug manufacturing enterprises in the Asian region were also dismantled.

Financial Investigation

During the year, both the Financial Investigations Division and the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit under the Narcotics Bureau made an enhanced contribution to Hong Kong's efforts in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Convictions for money laundering offences increased. The amount of criminal assets. restrained and confiscated rose compared to 2009.

There were significant increases in the number of suspicious transaction reports handled by the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit, facilitated in part by enhanced global regulation. The Police also continued to be well represented in local, regional and international forums in order to facilitate outreach, enhance their enforcement capability and keep abreast of the new developments in the area. The Police Force attended the plenary sessions and participated in a number of working groups and typologies research projects under the Financial Action Task Force and the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering.

Illegal Immigration

In 2010, a total of 3 092 illegal immigrants were arrested, a decrease of 16 per cent compared to 3 701 in 2009. The number of non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants arrested decreased to 377, a noticeable decrease of 72 per cent compared to 1 364 in 2009.

To control the influx of illegal immigrants, the Police and other government departments continued to take proactive measures in mounting inter-departmental operations. Close liaison and co-operation were also maintained with the Guangdong Border Defence Bureau to strengthen enforcement actions at the boundary.

Crime Prevention

The Crime Prevention Bureau continued its unabated effort to increase public awareness of all crimes through a variety of publicity campaigns, close co-ordination with other government departments and organisations to keep Hong Kong safe.

The bureau, through its Security Companies Inspection Unit, worked closely with the security industry to ensure that security companies, security personnel and monitored alarm systems were of the

of the highest standard. They made regular inspections of all security companies and shared with them good practices and new developments particularly in the area of human resource management.

Forensic Support

The Identification Bureau continued to play a significant role in supporting crime investigations and prosecutions by providing fingerprint collection and photography services as well as collecting DNA evidence from crime scenes. During