ENG-2018 — Page 312

Chapter 16

Public Order

Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world. The overall crime rate, meaning the number of crimes per 100,000 population, fell 4 per cent in 2018 while the violent crime rate fell 3.3 per cent compared with 2017. The overall crime detection rate was 46.5 per cent.

The Security Bureau is responsible for security-related policies, including the maintenance of law and order, exercising immigration and customs control, rehabilitating offenders and drug abusers, and providing emergency fire and rescue services.

Fight Crime Committee

The Fight Crime Committee (FCC), chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, provides advice and recommendations to prevent and reduce crime, coordinates crime-fighting efforts and monitors their results. In 2018, it monitored the overall crime situation, the trend of commercial crime and technology crime, the progress of the Police Superintendent's Discretion Scheme, youth crime, the drug situation and the Correctional Services Department's publicity campaign for rehabilitated people. Deception, sexual assault and drug abuse were targeted in its 2018-19 publicity strategy.

Working with the FCC are the 18 District Fight Crime Committees (DFCCs), which monitor the crime situation at district level, reflect community concerns about law and order and organise district publicity programmes to increase crime prevention awareness. The FCC held an annual dinner and the Fight Crime Conference in March and December respectively to reinforce closer links with the DFCCs.

Police Force

The Hong Kong Police Force's commitment to maintaining law and order helps ensure Hong Kong remains one of the world's safest and most stable cities.

At the end of 2018, the police had about 30,800 and 4,600 police officer and civilian posts respectively, reinforced by some 4,500 volunteers serving in the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force. It appointed 229 inspectors and 1,185 constables during the year.

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