Editorial | Safe Hong Kong owes much to vigilant citizens
- City stands to benefit when everyone stays alert, acts responsibly and reports crime
Hong Kong has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the safest cities in the world. People can walk the streets without fear of personal harm, and this is reflected in the annual crime statistics.
This safe environment is not only the result of exemplary work by law enforcement bodies but also the cooperation of citizens in reporting crime.
The recent crime prevention promotions on radio, in petrol stations and at tunnel entrances therefore come as no surprise. They are part of a citywide campaign launched by the Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit, urging taxi drivers to spot and report suspicious activities.
The drivers will also be invited to attend seminars on identifying suspicious people, items and incidents.
Following the introduction of the national security law that targets subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, the government has launched a reward scheme and a hotline for reporting non-urgent tips on suspected terrorism. More than 20,000 reports have been received since June 2022, involving more than 5,000 informants.