Cases involving criminal deception shot up 42.4 percent in January 2011, compared with the same month in 2010, raising an alarm in law enforcement.

Hong Kong saw 551 cases of deception in January, said Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong Friday.

"We have seen that this is a trend for 2011, and we are concerned about. That's why it is one of our major focuses this year," said Lee at a press conference.

Deceptions conducted via telephone accounted for a major part of the cases.

The con artists are using some new ploys, including randomly calling up people, claiming to be acquaintances and later borrowing money, Lee said.

Other deceptions were conducted on the street, when perpetrators managed to borrow money or cell phones from the passers-by, or tricked people into giving money by claiming that they will pray for their families.

The Fight Crime Committee has pledged more education and publicity in 2011 to raise awareness among the general public, among other campaigns to reduce deception cases.

The number of commercial deceptions decreased over 2010 but still saw HK$420 million in financial losses in the second half of 2010.

In addition, a total of 834 counterfeit Hong Kong dollar bills were seized in 2010.

Among them, 85 were HK$1,000 notes and 107 were HK$500 bills.

However, the number of cases of counterfeit renminbi decreased, partly as a result of closer cooperation with mainland police authorities, Lee said.

Apart from cracking down on criminal deception, Lee also mentioned three other concerns of the committee in 2011: fighting pickpocketing and snatching, indecent assaults and drug use.

Drugs seizures, involving cocaine, ice, and heroin, have increased, with the amount of cocaine more than four times the amount seized in 2010.

Lee said the police were more well-connected in a number of cases, resulting in a number of major drug dealers being arrested.

Among the young people who were caught committing crimes in 2010, nearly 30 percent were caught taking drugs, a 25 percent decrease over 2010.

"We will continue to hold campaigns in order to further combat drug-taking among the young people," said Lee.

China Daily

(HK Edition 02/26/2011 page1)