Crime has fallen by 8 per cent in Hong Kong this year thanks in part to the territory's improving economy, a government minister said Monday. However, more crimes are being committed by visitors from mainland China after a huge rise in the number of people allowed to cross the border into the former British colony. Overall, crime has fallen by 8 per cent so far this year with a 6 per cent dip in violent crime compared to the same period last year, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee announced. Lee said he believed the fall in crime was at least partly due to the improving economy which has seen unemployment fall steadily and property prices rise sharply since the middle of last year. "There are other factors, such as the police doing a good job, and ... the detection rate is also on the rise," Lee said. "The detection rate has increased by 10 per cent since last year which means people can't easily escape penalty if they violate the law which is a deterrent." Lee said the rise in crime committed by Chinese visitors was small compared to the "huge" increase in the number of people allowed to visit Hong Kong. Millions more Chinese people have been allowed into Hong Kong under an individual visitor scheme since mid-2003. Previously they were only allowed to visit as part of tours.
