Crime situation in 2016
Unscrupulous business practices of financial intermediaries
Mr CHAN Chun-ying asked whether reports about unscrupulous business practices of financial intermediaries had decreased after the recent introduction of a warning message against payment to financial intermediaries. CP responded that following the recent imposition of additional licensing conditions on money lender licences, the situation appeared to have improved. Nevertheless, the Police would continue to monitor the situation closely.
Technology crime
Mr CHAN Chun-ying commended the Police for maintaining a low crime rate in Hong Kong. Referring to paragraph 14 of the Police’s paper, he sought information on the detection rate of blackmail cases involving “ransomeware”. He expressed concern about whether the Police’s work in combating such crime was undermined by the delay in the establishment of a Chief Superintendent of Police (“CSP”) post to command the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (“CSTCB”).