Hong Kong – Police hold CyberDefenders’ Carnival 2024 (with photos)

     The Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force held the “CyberDefenders’ Carnival 2024” at HarbourChill, Wan Chai today (January 20) to educate the public about cyber threats and digital security through entertaining performances and interactive game booths, attracting 8,000 participants.
      
     Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Siu Chak-yee, said that the surging cybercrime has posed a global challenge in recent years. He quoted that Hong Kong recorded 31 467 cases of technology crimes with a total loss of $5 billion in the first 11 months of last year. Of them, 80 per cent were online scams. To enhance public awareness of fraud prevention and digital literacy, the Police launched the “All-round CyberDefence 2024”, a citywide cyber security campaign, through online and offline publicity activities calling for joint efforts from all sectors of the community, to make fraud prevention and digital security a part of people’s daily lives. He called on members of the public to take note of the recently launched High Risk Alert on the “Faster Payment System” and “SMS Sender Registration Scheme”, and to remain vigilant in order to identify fraud traps.
      
     Also officiating at the ceremony were the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Chow Yat-ming; the Director of Crime and Security, Mr Yip Wan-lung, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime), Ms Chung Wing-man; the Chief Superintendent of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau, Mr Lam Cheuk- ho; and the Deputy Director of the Judiciary Police of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Sou Sio-keong.
      
     The carnival featured 28 performing groups singing and dancing, including DI CODAR’s debut performance of “No No”, the theme song of the “All-round CyberDefence 2024”, as well as a light show in the evening, in which as many as 800 drones presented a story based on the theme of cybersecurity to promote the message on fraud prevention.
      
     The “Greater Bay Area Youth Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security Challenge” organised by the CSTCB also held its final and award presentation ceremony during the carnival. The challenge, which aimed to raise the awareness of cyber security and digital literacy among young people, attracted more than 1 000 secondary school students from Hong Kong, Macao and cities in the Greater Bay Area. Participants were asked to design artificial intelligence solutions to improve the quality of life of the public and safeguard cyber security. The ultimate champion of the competition was a joint team composed of Cheung Chuk Shan College, Carmel Divine Grace Foundation Secondary School, and Church of Christ in China Mong Man Wai College. The champions of Guangdong Province and Macao were joint teams composed of Fok Ying Tung High School, Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School, and Alcanta International College of Guangzhou, as well as Pui Ching Middle School (Macau), Saint Paul School Macau, and Guang Da Middle School, Macao.
      
     In addition, Mr Siu presented souvenirs to representatives of 29 public and private organisations in recognition of their contribution to the event.
      
     The “CyberDefenders’ Carnival” is a flagship event of the “All-round CyberDefence” campaign. For details of the campaign, please visit the designated website of “CyberDefender” (cyberdefender.hk).