Crime in Hong Kong

A crime prevention campaign by the Hong Kong Police Force, at Causeway Bay Station.

Crime in Hong Kong is present in various forms. The most common crimes are thefts, assaults, vandalism, burglaries, drug offenses, and triad-related crimes. In 2011 Hong Kong had the lowest murder rate in the world.

Statistics

Crime rate[1] 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Homicide total66695245343518364735172762
Homicide rate1.01.00.80.70.50.50.30.50.70.50.20.40.9

In the year of 2012, there were 12,821 reported incidents of violent crimes in Hong Kong. Hong Kong had 27 homicides, 6,818 incidents of wounding and serious assaults, 616 robberies, 4,214 burglaries, and 121 rapes. In the 2000s, the number and rate of murders was the highest in 2002. 2011 had the lowest rate and number of murders, at 17 (0.2 murders per 100,000 people; lowest in the world). The homicide rate increased 129.6% in 2013 from 2012.[1]

The most common form of crimes in Hong Kong are non-violent crimes. 33,664 reports of thefts were made in Hong Kong in 2012. The most common forms of thefts were miscellaneous thefts, shoplifting, pick-pocketing, and vehicle theft.[1] Criminal damage is also a common crime in Hong Kong, with 7,300 reports in 2012.[2]

Organized crime

Crimes committed by triads occur in Hong Kong. Common triad-related offenses include extortion, illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and racketeering.[3] One of the world's largest triads, Sun Yee On, was founded in Hong Kong in 1919, and has 55,000 members worldwide.[4] Sun Yee On's rival organization, 14K Triad, was formed in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China in 1945, and relocated to Hong Kong in 1949. According to British criminal Colin Blaney in his autobiography Undesirables, British organized crime groups known as the Wide Awake Firm and the Inter City Jibbers that specialize in jewelry thefts and picking pockets have also been known to operate in Hong Kong.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Crime Statistics Comparison, Hong Kong Police Force
  2. ↑ Chan, Bernard. Falling crime rate a Hong Kong success to celebrate, South China Morning Post, 22 February 2013. Retrieved on 15 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Crime Trends in Hong Kong , University of Hong Kong, 2000. Retrieved on 15 October 2013.
  4. ↑ Shanty, Frank; Mishra, Patit Paban Organized crime: from trafficking to terrorism, pg xvi, Volume 2. ISBN 1576073378 ABC-CLIO (24 September 2007)
  5. ↑ Blaney, Colin (2014). Undesirables. John Blake. pp. 240–242. ISBN 978-1782198970.