The number of counterfeit Renminbi notes seized by police has significantly increased as the currency's popularity has risen in Hong Kong and more mainland tourists visit, the police said yesterday.

The police seized 7,352 fake Renminbi notes from January to August - much more than the 5,902 fake Renminbi notes seized over the same period last year.

The fake Renminbi notes seized this year were worth 655,555 yuan. They included 100 100-yuan notes, 557 50-yuan notes, 390 20-yuan notes and 213 10-yuan notes.

Fight Crime Committee member Edgar Kwan Chi-ping said the increase in fake Renminbi notes is due to more mainland tourists visiting Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the number of counterfeit Hong Kong bank notes seized between January and August this year dropped to 2,499. They added up to HK$664,800 in fake money.

Among these notes, 940 of them were worth HK$100, 501 were worth HK$50, 453 were worth HK$500, 314 were worth HK$1,000, 234 were worth HK$20 and 57 were worth HK$10.

Police declined to give a reason for such a reduction in the number of counterfeit Hong Kong bank notes seized.

Another noticeable crime trend revealed by police was that the number of street-deception cases increased sharply to 150 in the first half of 2008. There were 62 more cases than during the same period in 2007.

Most of these cases involved the selling of fake electronic components and the borrowing of mobile phones.

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said the government is considering whether to request the court to impose a tougher penalty on street-deception crime, but he added that the government will not amend the ordinance.

According to police, the overall crime rate for the period of January to August has dropped by 2.8 percent over the same period last year.

(HK Edition 09/26/2008 page1)