A 29-year-old woman is arrested by the Hong Kong Police Force on June 5 on suspicion of smothering her three young daughters to death in a subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po.  (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - The number of crimes reported in Hong Kong in the first half of this year hit 42,923, a 36.5 percent increase over the same period in 2022, which the authorities attributed to a major spike in incidents of deception and the society’s return to normalcy.

The number of deception cases rose 52.1 percent to 18,743 in the first half of 2023, according to a police statement on the law and order situation, which was released on Friday.

More than 75 percent of the reported deception cases were internet-related, it added.

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The majority of the cases were e-shopping scams, phishing scams, employment fraud, investment fraud, and telephone deception - a jump ranging from 23 percent to one-fold.

While the first half of 2023 saw an increase in the crime statistics due to an upsurge in deception cases and the resumption of social activities after the epidemic, the overall law and order situation remained stable.

Hong Kong Police Force

The Anti-Deception Coordination Centre intercepted over HK$600 million in payments and prevented victims of 192 deception cases from wiring money to fraudsters, according to the statement.

Police however said the increase in fraud cases had already moderated, although the increase in deception cases led to the rise of overall crime, over the past six months.

While the number in the first quarter of 2023 represented an increase of 65 percent over the same period in 2022, the pace of increase was narrowed to 42 percent in the second quarter when compared to the same period last year.

During the period, authorities recorded 4,759 cases for violent crimes, an increase of 16.5 percent.

Meanwhile, robbery and burglary incidents also rose, with a 43.9 percent and 50.1 percent increase in their numbers respectively.

Police observed a rise in burglary cases, mostly involving residential premises. Burglars had apparently preyed on homes that were left unattended when people had resumed work, schooling, and trips, according to the statement.

The law enforcers advised residents to properly lock windows and doors and take anti-theft measures.

Regarding enforcement of the National Security Law, police arrested 260 people, as of June 30 this year. Around 60 percent of them have been charged with the offense.

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"While the first half of 2023 saw an increase in the crime statistics due to an upsurge in deception cases and the resumption of social activities after the epidemic, the overall law and order situation remained stable," the Hong Kong Police Force said. 

Compared with other international cities, the special administrative region has all along been maintaining a low crime rate, the force added.