Yuen Long police have vowed to shut down all brothels and arrest anyone found soliciting on streets in the district following the arrest of more than 300 people for vice-related offences - most of them mainland prostitutes - in the first six months of the year.
Chief Inspector Jackson Mak Pui-yuen said the numbers were well above those recorded in the same period last year because of an anti-vice crackdown. There were about 470 arrests for vice-related offences in the district for all of last year.
'Previously, we used to mount joint anti-vice operations with immigration officers once a month. But this year we have had such crackdowns two to four times a month,' he said. 'Making more arrests does not mean the situation is getting worse. In fact, it is improving.'
In the past, five or six suspected mainland prostitutes could be seen wandering along Tung Lok Street, Sau Fu Street or Castle Peak Road - all known black spots. Now only one or two can sometimes be seen there, police said.
'We hope our continuous operations act as a deterrent,' said Chief Inspector Mak. 'We will not relax. Rigorous action will be taken continuously against vice activities.'
Yuen Long district councillor Wong Kin-wing described the anti-vice operations as a game of cat and mouse. 'Prostitutes disappear off the streets when police take action. They resurface once officers leave,' he said. 'I think the problem will exist as long as there is a demand [for such sex services].'