Crime in Hong Kong is present in various forms. The most common crimes are thefts, assaults, vandalism, burglaries, drug offenses, and triad-related crimes. Hong Kong has a low murder rate.
Crime rate [1] | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Homicide total | 66 | 69 | 52 | 45 | 34 | 35 | 18 | 36 | 47 | 35 | 17 | 27 |
Homicide rate | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
In the year of 2012, there were 12,821 reported incidents of violent crimes in Hong Kong. Hong Kong had 27 homicides, 6,818 incidents of wounding and serious assaults, 616 robberies, 4,214 burglaries, and 121 rapes. [1]
The most common form of crimes in Hong Kong are non-violent crimes. 33,664 reports of thefts were made in Hong Kong in 2012. The most common forms of thefts were miscellaneous thefts, shoplifting, pick-pocketing, and vehicle theft. [1] Criminal damage is also a common crime in Hong Kong, with 7,300 reports in 2012. [2]
Crimes committed by triads occur in Hong Kong. Common triad-related offenses include extortion, illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and racketeering. [3] One of the world's largest triads, Sun Yee On, was founded in Hong Kong in 1919, and has 55,000 members worldwide. [4] Sun Yee On's rival organization, 14K Triad, was formed in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China in 1945, and relocated to Hong Kong in 1949.