INTRODUCTION
An annual report is perhaps not the place to provide a detailed history of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. Nevertheless, for the reader not well acquainted with the Force, a brief insight into its history, together with an outline of the organisation, will help set the scene for the remainder of the report.
The Force was formed in 1842, making it one of the oldest in the world. The first chief of police was Captain William Caine of the 26th Regiment of Infantry. He com- manded 34 men to attend to a population of 30,000. He was followed over the years by eight captains superintendent and two inspectors general before the present title of com- missioner was introduced in 1938. To date, there have been nine commissioners of police.
The Force developed steadily on classical lines, originally with an extremely broad role embracing such matters as the fire brigade, prisons, immigration, customs and a host of other services. Some of these services were shed rela- tively early; for example prisons in 1864 and fire services in 1922. However, even as late as 1960, the Force operated the immigration service and only in 1966 was the respon- sibility of the licensing of vehicles and drivers relinquished. Thus, the Force developed from a very broad base to a traditional force, comparable to many throughout the world.
The Force was largely unaffected by the first world war, but featured prominently in the defence of the territory during the Japanese invasion of 1941. Following World War II the Force was reorganised and, from an authorised strength in 1946 of 2,637 all ranks, it has now reached 17,124, one of the largest in the world. The Force has responded to the rapid development and the many changes that have occurred in Hong Kong over the last two decades and continues to monitor demands on its services in order to provide a highly professional and efficient service to the community.
During the last three years the organisation of the Force has undergone major changes. Emphasis has been placed
on the decentralisation of functions, aimed at regionalisa- tion of resources and a delegation of responsibilities. The central headquarters was formally restructured during 1976 under a single Deputy Commissioner, responsible for the day-to-day operation and administration of the Force, leaving the Commissioner free to devote himself to policy direction and a high level of personal contact within and outside the Force.
Within the headquarters structure are five functional wings - Special Branch, Criminal Investigation, Personnel and Support, Civil and Administration and Field Opera- tions. They are under the command of directors who hold the rank of senior assistant commissioners or the civilian equivalent. Below them is a pyramid structure within head- quarters with a specialised controlling and co-ordinating function in respect of districts. Districts are commanded by assistant commissioners, titled district police commanders, and are virtually autonomous in so far as day-to-day opera- tional and administrative matters are concerned. Similarly, divisions are commanded by superintendents and sub- divisions are normally commanded by chief inspectors. They operate independently within an overall framework of orders and policies set by the Commissioner and district commanders. Further delegation of responsibility is exercised through a sub-unit command system within sub-divisions, units being under the command of an in- spector or a station sergeant. The whole aim of the structure is to ensure the responsibility is fulfilled at the level appropriate to the task and the needs of the Force and the community.
Indications so far are that benefits derived from such delegation are fully justifying the trust placed in officers on whom delegated responsibility is placed, and this policy will continue to be pursued and, where appropriate, expanded. Full details of the organisational structure appear in the appendices to this report.
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