Camouflaged police will lie in wait for robbers on the Peak and in Pokfulam Country Park in response to Monday's attack on a woman in Lugard Road, police said.
They will hide in undergrowth along popular walking trails. Police also plan to increase patrols by uniformed and plainclothes officers on the Peak, according to a senior officer.
The decision followed a search yesterday involving more than 100 officers for a man who robbed Karin Svensson, 63, the former wife of Tan Man-kou, a Hong Kong delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Ms Svensson was robbed of her handbag containing $1,200, a mobile phone and bank cards while walking on the Peak. Her leg was injured when the robber pushed her down a slope before fleeing.
During yesterday's search, 80 officers from the Police Tactical Unit spent 12 hours using dogs to search the Peak, as well as Aberdeen and Pokfulam country parks. No arrest was made.
Ms Svensson's son, Oliver Tan, yesterday joined other Peak-goers in urging the government to ensure the safety of Hong Kong. 'I hope my mother's suffering can draw government concern over the safety of local residents and visitors. They need to do something to protect our safety,' he said.
Police commissioner Dick Lee Ming-kwai said the force was extremely concerned because such robberies affected public confidence and Hong Kong's reputation as a safe city. Referring also to the recent spate of robberies targeting hikers in country parks, Mr Lee said the size of the parks made policing difficult.
