Hong Kong crime rate declines despite Occupy Central protests

The number of crimes reported to police in the first 10 months of this year has decreased compared with the same period last year, despite fears that the pro-democracy Occupy movement would lead to an increase.

Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said the decrease was due to Hongkongers' cooperation in preventing and identifying crimes. He also said the police had done a good job of raising community awareness of crime prevention.

"The police have the responsibility to enforce the laws, but citizens' cooperation with the police is more important," Lai said yesterday.

Many people had raised concerns that the Occupy movement would lead to a surge in crime, due to the thousands of police officers deployed to handle the pro-democracy protests. But the overall number of crimes committed between January and October was 56,604, about seven per cent lower than in the same period last year.

Lai said he was aware of some activists planning protests during the Christmas holidays, and said police would deploy sufficient manpower to "enable people who come out to celebrate to spend a happy period".

"Christmas holidays are very important," he said. "Anybody who gathers illegally will be handled by the police properly."

Regarding a group of activists being denied entry into Macau yesterday, Lai said any jurisdiction had the power to decide who to admit across its borders, and that he respected the Macau immigration officials' decision.