Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that the lifesaving services at Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District resumed today (July 26). The lifesaving services at the beach were suspended earlier due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty.
In the first half of 2019, Police continued to strengthen enforcement actions in view of the overall traffic situation. In the first six months of 2019, the number of enforcement actions taken against congestion related and moving vehicle offences amounted to 1,295,134 (including fixed penalty tickets, summonses and arrests), an increase of 27,151 comparing to the corresponding period of last year.
There were 7,565 traffic accidents (with person injured) in the first half of 2019, representing a drop of 165 cases (down 2%) when compared with the same period of last year. Among them, 49 were fatal traffic accidents, a drop of 11 cases (down 18% ). A total of 9,375 persons were injured in traffic accidents, a decrease of 52 persons. There were 50 fatalities (29 were pedestrians, 16 were drivers and 5 were passengers), reduced by 29 persons from the corresponding period of last year (down 37%).
In the first half of this year, 1,433 pedestrians were injured or killed in traffic accidents, down 7% when compared with the corresponding period of last year. Police noticed that elderly citizens were the most vulnerable group. Among the 29 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents in the first half of 2019, 17 were aged 65 or above, amounting to 59% of the total number of pedestrian fatalities. The major cause of such fatal accidents was crossing carriageway without paying attention to the road situation.
In addition, from January to June 2019, there were 1,560 traffic accidents caused by “inattentive driving”, accounting for 21% of the total number of traffic accidents. Twenty-two were fatal traffic accidents, down 8 cases from the corresponding period of last year. The number of fatalities decreased by 25 to 23 persons but it still accounted for about half of the number of fatalities in traffic accidents. According to Police figures, “inattentive driving” has been the top contributory factor for traffic accidents since 2009, and so motorists’ driving attitude continued to be a concern.
In the first half of 2019, there were 103 traffic accidents involving drink driving, a drop of 9 cases (down 8%) from the corresponding period of last year. A total of 391 persons were arrested while the number of casualties was 72.
Road safety is one of the Commissioner’s Operational Priorities in 2019. Aside from enforcement action taken under the Selected Traffic Enforcement Priorities programme, Police made effort to raise road safety awareness among road users, in particular senior citizens. More than 150 pedestrian safety activities were organized to publicise and educate the public in the first half of 2019. Police will continue to promote road safety, and will apply technology to assist enforcement work.
The new version of the “Automatic Number Plate Recognition System” came into full operation in March 2019. The system was installed in large estate vehicles operated by traffic officers, with cameras to identify four types of offending vehicles, namely "Unlicensed Vehicles", "Vehicles Licensed to Disqualified Drivers", "Vehicles Licensed to Persons Wanted for an Outstanding Traffic Warrant" and "Stolen Vehicles". When the system identifies a vehicle suspected in connection with the above, police officers will stop the vehicle for further enquiry. If other offences are disclosed during enquiries, officers will also take appropriate enforcement actions.
Starting from the third quarter of 2019, Police will introduce a pilot scheme on Electronic Fixed Penalty Tickets in seven Police Districts (including Wan Chai, Wong Tai Sin, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City, Sha Tin, Yuen Long and Tai Po Police Districts). Under the scheme, 200 frontline Uniformed Branch police officers and traffic wardens will make use of mobile phone applications to capture the vehicle details by scanning the QR Code on the vehicle license to process illegal parking offences electronically and use portable printers to issue the tickets, thereby raising enforcement efficiency and accuracy.
Two 3D laser scanners were purchased in March 2019 for trial use in traffic accident investigation. Laser scanning can thereby reducing the time needed for enquiries at the scene. The Force will review the use of 3D laser Scanner and consider to equip all Regional Traffic Formations with the device in the future.
Upon the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the usage of roads in nearly areas has been rising. The Force has implemented corresponding deployment and traffic control to ensure road safety and reduce congestion.
The roads in areas of Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai were open for traffic in the first half of 2019 while the Boundary Control Point is expected to be commissioned in the second half of this year. The Force will make reference to past experience to implement appropriate measures with other Government Departments to ensure smooth traffic flow.
In conclusion, the Force will continue its efforts towards promoting road safety and will explore the use of technology to make traffic enforcement more efficient. The Force will continue its efforts towards ensuring a smooth traffic flow and making our roads safer for all through a combination of engagement and enforcement.
Under the authority delegated by the Chief Executive, the Financial Secretary has appointed six new members and re-appointed 20 serving members to the panel of the Insurance Appeals Tribunal (IAT) for a new term from July 26, 2019, to July 25, 2021.
The panel membership of the IAT for the new term is as follows:
New appointees
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Professor Chan Koon-hung
Ms Kerry Ching Kim-wai
Ms Julienne Jen
Dr Gladie Lui Man-ching
Professor Phyllis Mo Lai-lan
Mr Simon Tang Shu-pui
Re-appointed members
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Mr Frederick Chan Hing-fai
Ms Karen Chan Ka-yin
Professor Stella Cho Lung Pui-lan
Mr Alex Chu Wing-yiu
Professor Goo Say-hak
Mr Marvin Hsu Tsun-fai
Mr Eric Hui Kam-kwai
Professor Michael Hui King-man
Mr Adrian King
Miss Anna-Mae Koo Mei-jong
Ms Juan Leung Chung-yan
Dr Miranda Lou Lai-wah
Mr Philip Mak Shun-pong
Mr Andrew Mak Yip-shing
Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho
Dr Patrick Poon Sun-cheong
Mr Bhabani Sankar Rath
Mr Gary Soo Kwok-leung
Mr Charles Yang Chuen-liang
Dr Samuel Yung Wing-ki
Announcing the appointments today (July 26), a Government spokesman said, "The IAT provides an effective safeguard to ensure that the relevant regulatory decisions made by the Insurance Authority (IA) are reasonable and fair."
The Government also paid tribute to outgoing members. They are Mr Dennis Ho Chiu-ping, Ms Phoebe Tse Siu-ling and Dr William Wong Ming-fung, SC.
"Their service to the IAT provided an effective safeguard for the proper regulation of the insurance industry in Hong Kong," the spokesman said.
The IAT is a statutory tribunal established under the Insurance Ordinance (Cap. 41) to review specified decisions made by the IA. The IAT consists of the chairperson and two ordinary members appointed by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury from a pool of panel members on the recommendation of the chairperson. The chairperson of the IAT is Mr Douglas Lam Tak-yip, SC.
Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 26) that due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty, the lifesaving services at Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District is suspended until further notice.
First aid service will be maintained at the beach.
In the first half of 2019, a total of 25 295 crime cases were recorded, representing a decrease of 1 255 cases or 4.7% when compared with the same period of last year. The overall crime figures hit a record low since 1977 in which half-year crime statistics were first kept.
There were 3 970 cases of violent crime in the first half of 2019, a decrease of 9% when compared with the same period of last year.
1. Major crimes recorded decreases
In the first half of this year, crimes recorded decreases included homicide, robbery, burglary, serious drug offences, wounding and serious assault, and criminal intimidation, etc.
There were 11 cases of homicide, representing a decrease of 6 cases or 35.3% when compared with the same period in 2018. These cases arose from disputes between couples, family members, friends, residents in residential care homes, etc. All cases were detected.
There were 44 cases of robbery reported, representing a significant drop of 38 cases or 46.3% when compared with the same period of last year. The number of street and convenience store robberies decreased by 31 cases or 63.3%. Police will continue to strengthen the work on intelligence and investigation, including collaboration with the Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies, to prevent and detect robberies so as to neutralize related crime syndicates.
A total of 586 serious drug cases were recorded, representing a drop of 146 cases or 19.9% when compared with the same period in 2018. The seizure amount of cocaine, ketamine, cannabis and heroin increased while the amount of methamphetamine (Ice) seized dropped. The increase in the seizure amount was attributed to multiple successful operations conducted by the Police and the Customs and Excise Department respectively. In recent years, some overseas countries and regions legalized the use of cannabis for medical or recreational purpose. Nonetheless, possessing, consuming or trafficking cannabis or products containing controlled cannabis compounds constitutes a criminal offence in Hong Kong. Members of the public should pay attention to relevant local legislation while traveling abroad during summer vacation, and be mindful of products containing cannabis compounds so as to avoid contravening the law inadvertently by bringing them back to Hong Kong.
2. Major crimes recorded increases
In the first half of 2019, crimes that registered increases included deception and sexual offence.
A total of 3 855 cases of deception were recorded, representing a rise of 184 cases or 5% when compared with the same period in 2018. Such increase mainly stemmed from telephone deception and e-shopping fraud.
2.1 Telephone deception
Telephone Deception totalled 231 cases, representing a rise of 66 cases or 40%. The two common modus operandi were “Pretend Officials” (108 cases, increase of 83.1%) and “Guess Who” (122 cases, increase of 22%). There was only 1 case of “Detained Son” recorded (decrease of 83.3%). The pecuniary loss involved in telephone deception totalled $53 million, being a 4-fold increase. Near 90% of the loss was attributed to “Pretend Officials” cases, pecuniary loss of which totalled $46 million, reaching a 9-fold increase.
Other than instructing the victims to make deposit to designated bank accounts, fraudsters also lured the victims to set up new bank accounts, and subsequently asked them to disclose the banking details and passwords on various pretexts in order to have direct control over victims’ bank accounts. This often siphoned off all savings of the victims in the account causing the significant increase in total monetary loss.
Telephone deception became more prevalent among the young people. Victims aged below 30 increased by around 40% over the same period of last year. Majority of them were victims of “Pretend Officials”.
In light of this, Police will continue to alert the public of the latest modus operandi through different channels and social media, including the Hong Kong Police Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Weibo, etc.
2.2 E-shopping fraud
A total of 1 084 cases of e-shopping fraud were reported, representing a rise of 135 cases or 14.2%. The total loss was $13 million, representing a drop of 27.3%.
To raise the awareness of the public, Police has strengthened collaboration with online trading platforms and mobile apps to disseminate anti-deception messages to remind the public to remain vigilant when trading online.
By the end of June this year, the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC), which has been established for two years, has successfully intercepted over $2.7 billion of payment in collaboration with the banking sector. This year, Police managed to intercept a remittance of $21 million to an overseas bank, in cooperation with overseas law enforcement agency for the first time.
2.3 Sexual offence
In the first half of 2019, an increase was recorded for sexual offence, including rape and indecent assault. There were 29 rape cases, representing an increase of 6 cases or 26.1% when compared with the same period of last year. One case was committed by stranger and has been detected. For indecent assault, 573 cases were recorded, representing an increase of 36 cases or 6.7%.
Cases in which the victims acquainted with the offenders via the Internet totalled 16 cases, which was the same as last year.
To prevent sexual offences, Police will enhance publicity and education, particularly on social networking traps, on the Internet, at schools and during activities of youth organizations.
3. Triads, domestic violence and youth crimes
Other cases of public concern include triad, domestic violence and youth crimes.
In the first half of 2019, triad-related crimes totalled 777 cases, representing a drop of 6.9% when compared with the same period of last year. During the period, the Force mounted a series of large-scale anti-triad operations, including the territory-wide “Operation LEVINGTON” in April. Over 500 persons were arrested for drug trafficking, money laundering, loansharking, operating gambling establishment, possession of offensive weapon, etc. In addition, to combat triad-controlled illegal gambling activities in licensed game centres, Police mounted “Operation WISEBOLD” with 135 persons arrested and seizure of more than 150 game machines used for gambling.
Police will show no tolerance or leniency towards triad-related crimes, and will continue to proactively combat all triad activities, including conducting large-scale intelligence-led anti-crime operations, undercover operations, as well as conducting financial investigation to intercept crime proceeds of the syndicates.
There were 633 domestic violence (crime) cases in the first half in 2019, representing a decrease of 9.3%. A total of 294 cases of domestic violence (miscellaneous) were received, representing a rise of 52.3%. Family violence (crime) totalled 398 cases, representing a drop of 17.6%.
A total of 1 234 youths were arrested for crimes in the first half of 2019, representing a drop of 17.7% when compared with the same period of last year. Most of them were arrested for shop theft, wounding and serious assault, and miscellaneous theft.
4. Conclusion
　　
Combating technology crime continues to be one of the Force’s operational priorities. The Internet and social media have become part of citizens’ daily life, such as for online trading and making friends. More fraudsters take advantage of online channels to prey on potential victims. To raise the vigilance of the public, Police will alert citizens of the latest pitfalls through different platforms, including the media, social media of the Hong Kong Police Force, ADCC, etc. Police will also enhance the overall capabilities in detecting technology crime and further equip investigating officers with professional knowledge via trainings.
Police will continue to carry out duties with utmost dedication, serve faithfully and impartially, and maintain the law and order in our best endeavors.