Macao, known as Monte Carlo in the East, reports good public order this year thanks to efficient efforts exerted by local police, Cheong Kuoc Va, secretary for security, said Wednesday.
In his annual policy address, he said at the Legislative Assembly that the public security situation in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) "was consolidated and remains stable" in 2002 after distinct improvement in the previous two straight years.
Police succeeded in cracking down on a series of criminal activities in casinos, contributing to the healthy development and liberalization of the city's gambling industry, he said.
In the first three quarters of the year, 223 people were arrested for drug trafficking, the official revealed, adding that drug-related crimes are now "in control."
"Ideal" results have been achieved in fighting against blockade-running, overstaying and illegal entries, Cheong said. From January to September, more than 11,000 people who overstayed illegally in Macao were repatriated.
Crimes conducted by the youth declined 35.9 percent year-on-year in the first nine months. The SAR's top security official attributed the achievement to closer links between the government and schools, citing that more lectures were given by police authorities on campus.
Cheong vowed to make greater efforts in the coming year to make Macao "one of the cities with the best security records in the world."
(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2002)
