4 November 2024
An IPCC delegation of Council Members and Secretariat staff, led by IPCC Chairman Ms Priscilla WONG Pui-sze, SBS, JP, went to Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) in Central on Halloween night. During the occasion, Members learnt about the situations and sentiments of the public and tourists during Halloween activities, and the operation and challenges faced by frontline police officers as they implemented crowd management strategies for large-scale festive celebration. If any complaints arise on the occasion in the future, this firsthand experience will enable Members to conduct a comprehensive examination of such complaints.
IPCC Members were briefed by representatives of the Central Police District (CDIST) at the District Operations Room (DOR) on crowd management measures during Halloween. Police representatives introduced the various zones set up by the police in LKF and outlined how they harnessed technology to strengthen their crowd management capabilities.
Police representatives provided an overview to Members on the installation of new CCTVs over LKF. The CCTVs captured and transmitted real-time images from multiple angles to DOR to help the police monitor the crowd situation and develop appropriate crowd management measures, thereby ensuring the smooth operation of events and maintaining public safety. Representatives of the CDIST also demonstrated the functions of “Crowd Estimation System” that was used for the first time on Halloween night. The system utilises image analysis technology to perform real-time estimation of on-site people density, allowing the police to identify potential safety hazards and perform pedestrian diversion measures as soon as necessary. Public broadcast devices were also installed in the area to issue public announcements and take contingency measures in case of an emergency.
Members then proceeded to several key locations on Hollywood Road, Wyndham Street, D’Aguilar Street and Queen’s Road Central to observe how frontline police officers diverted pedestrians and traffic through employing one-way and tidal flow crowd control measures in LKF during peak periods on Halloween night. The IPCC delegation also went to the temporary policing area at the junction of D’Aguilar Street and Wellington Street. Members engaged in discussions with frontline police officers to understand how they achieved the goals of their operational measures while taking into account the facilitation of festive celebrations and the protection of public safety.
IPCC Chairman Ms Priscilla WONG said, “Hong Kong is a hub for mega events. During large-scale activities, the police face great challenges not only in ensuring the smooth operation of the events but also in safeguarding the life and property of citizens and tourists in crowded environments. This on-site observation in LKF provided Members with insight into the environment and situations of a mega event, allowing Members to gain firsthand experience of the sentiments expressed by citizens and tourists participating in such events. The Council also had an understanding of the considerations frontline police officers must take into account when enforcing the law and maintaining order in real-life settings. Should complaints arise from this festive event in the future, this experience will equip Members to better understand on-site circumstances and perform a thorough examination of complaint cases.”
When vetting complaints, IPCC always upholds the principle of handling each complaint “strictly on the basis of fact and evidence, honestly, without fear or favour” to ensure complaints are handled in a fair and impartial manner. The Council will continue to monitor the complaint figures and trends arising from large-scale festive celebration, while also seeking to propose Service Quality Improvement Initiatives to assist the police in enhancing their service quality and reducing unnecessary complaints.
11 May 2024
An IPCC delegation of Council Members and Secretariat staff members, led by IPCC Chairman Ms Priscilla WONG Pui-sze, SBS, JP, visited the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (“ADCC”) and the Anti-Deception Alliance (“ADA”) in the Police Headquarters. During the visit, Members learned about the police’s latest strategies to prevent and combat deception, and the challenges faced by police officers, the understanding of which would assist in the comprehensive scrutinization of complaint cases.
The IPCC delegation received a briefing from representatives of the Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) on the work of the ADCC in three aspects, namely law enforcement, intelligence gathering and public education. On one hand, the ADCC works in close collaboration with banks, telecommunications service providers and law enforcement agencies outside Hong Kong, while launching initiatives such as the “Upstream Scam Intervention” scheme and the year-round “Anti-Scam Promotional Truck” to raise citizens’ anti-scam awareness on the other. CCB officers also shared the challenges they face in fighting fraud cases such as telephone deception, online shopping and investment scams, amid the ever-changing online landscape.
In addition, CCB officers introduced the ADA jointly established by the police and 10 major banks late last year. The police representatives briefed Members on the process of intercepting payments to fraudsters and highlighted some successful cases where the “Upstream Scam Intervention” scheme had proactively identified of potential victims, leading to the timely prevention of deception.
Members then toured the ADCC operation centre to learn about the “Anti-Scam Helpline 18222”. The call centre provides anti-deception consultation services to the public around the clock and has a real-time monitoring system to integrate relevant data for more effective interception of fraud cases.
IPCC Chairman Ms Priscilla WONG said, “Through this visit, the Council has gained a better understanding of the police’s dedication to combatting and preventing deception, and their determination in protecting the property of the general public. However, as the Chinese saying goes, ‘As virtue rises one foot, vice rises ten’. To prevent fraudsters from getting their ways, apart from expediting the crackdown on deception cases by the police, it is also crucial for the public to remain vigilant at all times to avoid falling into such traps.”
In recent years, as the number of deception cases continues to surge, more members of the public have filed reports to the police. The resulting increase in interface between the public and police officers might give rise to more occasions for complaints. When scrutinizing complaints, IPCC always upholds the fact-and-evidence-based principle to ensure justice for both complainants and complainees. The Council will continue to closely monitor the complaint figures and trends arising from police investigation and handling of deception cases, and proactively propose Service Quality Improvement Initiatives to assist the police in enhancing their service quality and reducing unnecessary complaints.
