***********************************
Following is the transcript (English portion) of the remarks made by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, at a media session at the ground floor lobby, West Wing, Central Government Offices after the Fight Crime Committee (FCC) meeting this afternoon (November 23):
Secretary for Security: The Fight Crime Committee has reviewed the crime situation of Hong Kong for the first 10 months of this year. The crime situation remains very stable. Certain crimes have recorded a decrease including criminal damage, burglaries, robberies and serious wounding. Certain crimes, on the other hand, have recorded an increase including shoplifting, criminal intimidation, blackmail, rape and murder. Of the serious narcotic offences, we have recorded a significant increase in the seizure of ketamine. Compared with the seizure of last year, there was a threefold increase in the seizure. There was also a significant increase in the seizure of cocaine. The Government has stepped up its efforts to fight against youth drug abuses, especially among our school children. Come December, we will push forward the Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing in 23 schools in Tai Po. In general terms, the law and order situation in Hong Kong remains very steady. The number of crimes recorded for the first 10 months of this year has decreased by as much as 0.9%.
Reporter: Mr Lee, any reason why there has been an increase in the seizures of ketamine and cocaine and how would the Government deal with this? And second question is related to the Marine Police incident.
Secretary for Security: There are couple of reasons for the large seizures of ketamine and cocaine this year. The first reason is that the supply is abundant; there are plenty of supplies. The second reason is that the Government has stepped up its efforts in attacking the source of drugs to Hong Kong. The large seizure of ketamine, I think, is largely attributed to the stepped-up enforcement action this summer. Between July and October, we have seized about 330kg of ketamine in five large-scale operations. Likewise, we have also seized a large quantity of cocaine this year.
You enquired about the Marine Police case. We have repeated time and again that we want to enforce strict discipline in our departments. We will not tolerate any officers not following the rules. The case is still under investigation. I am expecting a report.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Monday, November 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:56
NNNN
