Where the data comes from
The Hong Kong Police Force publishes crime figures monthly by police district (total crime, violent, theft and other categories) — a public, verifiable first-hand source. When comparing, look at the "crime rate per thousand residents" rather than absolute numbers, because districts differ greatly in population and area.
Look at rates, not totals
More populous districts naturally have higher absolute numbers, but their rates may be lower; conversely, a small area with a few serious cases can spike in rate. Always use standardised rates for horizontal comparison — that's the only fair way.
Crime type matters more than total
What affects daily peace of mind is mostly street-level types like burglary, indecent assault and assault, not the overall number. Check separately by the types you care about (such as safety returning late at night, home burglary) to match your own needs.
On-the-ground indicators
Street lighting sufficiency, CCTV coverage, night-time foot traffic and shop hours, community patrol density — these "soft indicators" fill in the feel that data can't show, especially important for people returning late or living alone.
How to combine with district choice
Rank the crime rate together with your original district criteria (budget, commute, school net); safety is one dimension, not the only one. Our district pages organise each area's lifestyle information for an initial horizontal comparison, with official statistics and on-the-ground visits as the final authority.