Overall crime fell 4% in the first half of the year.

Police Director of Crime & Security Lo Wai-chung said today 36,068 crime cases were recorded during the six-month period.

There were 6,074 violent crimes, down 5.9% year-on-year.

Decreases were seen in miscellaneous theft (-6.3%), burglary (-19.5%), criminal damage (-10.7%), and wounding and serious assault (-8.6%) cases.

Mr Lo said crimes recording increases included deception (+10 %), blackmail (+62.3%), and indecent assault (+7.2%).

There were 53 homicide cases, a 2.5-fold increase on last year’s figure, due to the Lamma Island ferry tragedy last October in which 39 died. The two captains involved have been charged with manslaughter. Excluding that incident, the figure was similar to last year.

Serious drug cases rose 2.4% year-on-year to 1,086. Cases involving 'ice', cocaine and cannabis were rising. However, those involving heroin and ketamine decreased.

Seizures of heroin, ice and cocaine rose.

A total of 2,866 juveniles were arrested, down 17.2% year-on-year. Most of them were arrested for assault, theft, and drug and gang offences.

Mr Lo said Police will monitor crime trends closely and combat those crimes on the rise.