Hong Kong - The number of peeping Tom photographers in Hong Kong rail stations has soared 30 per cent, a news report said Friday. Ng Shan-ho, railway police deputy district commander, said there were 117 cases of people caught taking photos up the skirts of women in 2008, compared with 88 cases in 2007, the Hong Kong Standard reported.

In 104 cases, police were able to catch the culprits, a success rate of 90 per cent.

Ng said most of the offences took place on escalators and the culprits were usually aged 13 to 35 and ranged from students to bank staff and teachers.

However, cases of fare dodging, indecent assault and pickpocketing had declined, Ng said, with reported criminal cases dropping from 899 in 2007 to 864 last year.

The figures were released the same day as a 33-year-old secondary schoolteacher appeared in court to plead guilty to taking 15 photographs under the skirts of women at a mass transit rail station with his mobile phone.

He was arrested after being spotted by a plainclothes police officer. Sentencing was adjourned until May 8. (dpa)