The number of registered criminal cases stood at 11,914 in Macao in the judiciary year of 2005 to 2006, a year-on-year rise of 16 percent, an official said Wednesday.

Ho Chio Meng, Public Prosecutor-General, said while addressing the opening ceremony of the judiciary year of 2006 to 2007 that the rise of criminal cases has had negative impact on the social stability.

Ho said the Public Prosecutions Office has spared no efforts in the past year to simplify the prosecution progress to fight crime more effectively.

He said in the upcoming new judiciary year the prosecution forces are to continue the reform in the prosecution system and to enhance the international cooperation to fight cross-border criminals.

The special administrative region annually stages the opening ceremony of the new judiciary year to showcase its determination to maintain the public security.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2006)