THE Vecta anti-theft system is not the type of hypersensitive, deafening alarm that is set off when someone happens to walk too close to your car.
In fact, the the Vecta is a blessedly silent ''immobiliser'', which means that should a thief attempt to drive off in your car, he will not be met by that often impotent wail, but by stony silence and a car that will refuse to start.
According to claims by the Vector makers, not one car has been stolen under its own power when fitted with a Vecta - an impressive statistic given that it has now been on the British market for four years.
Mr Jeff Heselwood, Vectors public relations and marketing representative in Hongkong, is quick to point out that such is the reputation of the Vecta in Britain that it has been chosen by Aston Martin to be fitted as standard on its new DB7.
''We have similar kinds of deals in the pipeline here in Hongkong. If you own a luxury car here, it is now almost impossible to have it insured against theft,'' Mr Heselwood said.
The reason insurance companies are so unwilling to deal in anti-theft policies in Hongkong's is the high rate of car theft.
Last year, 6,918 cars were stolen in the territory and less than half of these were recovered.