Opinion | Let’s not take Hong Kong’s safe streets for granted
- Hongkongers who are travelling again may encounter more frequent crimes in what seems to be a new normal in many overseas destinations
- But we can take heart that we are returning to one of the safest cities in the world
We often don’t truly treasure something until we no longer have it. Having stayed put in Hong Kong these past three years with little to no travel, most of us may have started taking certain aspects of our city for granted.
On my recent trip to the United States, I was shocked to see armed security guards at many upscale stores and malls in the San Francisco Bay Area. As I am used to the safety of Hong Kong, the sight of armed guards was a bit disconcerting.
Across America, “smash-and-grab” crimes have become more common, with thieves making off with goods in brazen raids. There have been both lone wolves and organised gangs that target everything from liquor and electronics to jewellery and pharmacy items. Shoppers and employees who happen to be in the wrong store at the wrong time might have their safety compromised or their lives threatened.
Larceny and theft incidents in San Francisco’s Central district surged almost 88 per cent year-on-year in 2021, and overall crime was up by almost 52 per cent. Across 29 cities in the US, a recent Council on Criminal Justice study found that robberies increased by 19 per cent in the first half of 2022, compared to a year ago.
To my chagrin, I also had to worry about my rental car. Whilst car break-ins have always been a problem, I was now stressing over the very real possibility of the catalytic converter being stolen from beneath my car, even in broad daylight. Catalytic converter theft in the US has jumped by more than 1,000 per cent in just a few years. During my stay in the States, I felt I had to be constantly vigilant and to have my guard up at all times. It can really diminish one’s experience of a place.
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