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Public Order

29 kilograms of illicit drugs. The bureau formulates strategies regularly to address challenges posed by newly emerged dangerous drugs.

Financial Investigation

The Financial Investigations Division and the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit combat money laundering and terrorist financing activities, while the Risk Assessment Unit conducts corresponding risk assessment exercises. During the year, 69 persons were convicted of money laundering offences, with criminal assets of about $268 million restrained and $127 million confiscated.

Forensic Support

The Identification Bureau collects and compares fingerprints, examines firearms, takes photographs and gathers DNA evidence from crime scenes to support crime investigations and prosecutions. In 2020, fingerprint evidence linked 1,694 persons to 1,510 criminal cases.

Liaison

The Liaison Bureau is the designated police unit for liaison with law enforcement agencies outside Hong Kong on crime investigation, mutual legal assistance, surrender of fugitive offenders, and notifications under the Reciprocal Notification Mechanism with the Mainland. As a sub-bureau of the Interpol National Central Bureau China, it deals with Interpol-related

matters.

Counter-terrorism

Hong Kong has a sound legal framework and enforcement capability to prevent and tackle terrorist activities. The police work with other law enforcement agencies through the Inter- departmental Counter Terrorism Unit to monitor international and domestic terrorism trends, enhance counter-terrorism strategies, formulate action plans in collaboration with relevant departments, gather intelligence and promote public education.

National Security

The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region came into effect on 30 June. The police's National Security Department, established on 1 July, is responsible for collecting and analysing intelligence and information concerning national security; planning, coordinating and enforcing measures and operations for safeguarding national security; investigating offences endangering national security; conducting counter-interference investigations and national security reviews; carrying out tasks of safeguarding national security assigned by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and performing other duties and functions necessary for the enforcement of the national security law.

Traffic

During the year, 15,298 traffic accidents involved casualties, with 1,912 and 96 cases recording serious injuries and fatalities respectively. The data represented 5 per cent fewer accidents involving casualties and 3.6 per cent more accidents involving serious injuries or fatalities than in 2019.

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