Financial Crime World

Title: Hong Kong Police Report 2021: Increase in Financial Crimes and Major Enforcement Actions

Key Findings

  • A total of 64,428 crimes reported to Hong Kong Police in 2021, a 1.9% increase from the previous year.
  • Violence saw a 2.1% rise, while deceit jumped significantly by 23.8%.
  • Record-breaking six consecutive years without reported robbery using real firearms.
  • Organized crime and triad activities were major priorities.

Total Crimes and Detection Rates

  • 869 crimes per 100,000 people reported in 2021, up from 845 in 2020.
  • Detection rates for overall and violent crimes rose by 0.7% and 4.1%, respectively.

Crime Categories

Violent Crimes

  • Remained relatively constant at 126 cases per 100,000 people in both years.
  • Detection rate: 36.3% in 2021.

Deceit

  • Major contributor to overall increase with a 23.8% jump.
  • Detection rate: 50.8% in 2021.

Robbery

  • Lowest since records began in 1969.
  • 25 cases per 100,000 people in 2021.
  • Detection rate: 78%.

Burglary

  • Decline of 29.7%.
  • 121 cases per 100,000 people in 2021.
  • Detection rate: 34.9%.

Enforcement Actions

Organized Crime and Triad Bureau

  • Focused on bookmaking activities during major football events.
  • Arrested 824 individuals and seized over $23 million in cash and over $3.6 billion in betting records.

Criminal Intelligence Bureau

  • Manages intelligence system and supports major operations and serious crime investigations.
  • Focused on targeting triads and sophisticated crime syndicates.
  • Maintained close liaison with Mainland, Macao, and overseas law enforcement intelligence agencies.

Commercial Crime Bureau

  • Investigated complex commercial crimes.
  • Uncovered an insurance fraud concerning Investment-linked Assurance Scheme (ILAS) transactions.
  • Regulators conducted a comprehensive review of ILAS product sales.

Anti-Deception Coordination Centre and Fraud and Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce

  • Disrupted scams, serious financial crime, and money laundering threats.
  • Received over 131,900 public enquiry calls.
  • Intercepted over $9.87 billion of crime proceeds.

Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau

  • Combatted technology crime and maintained Hong Kong’s cyberspace security.
  • Led the international community with Chief Superintendent serving as INTERPOL Global Cybercrime Expert Group Chairman.
  • Hosted virtual Technology Crime Investigation Workshop alongside INTERPOL and the sixth Annual Meeting of the IGCEG.