character building studies; and 20 per cent pre-vocational studies. Community service features prominently in the activities of the cadets.
It is interesting to note that, of the 326 cadets who have so far passed out from the school, all have opted to join one of the disciplined services. The proportion opting for entry into the Force has been close to 90 per cent, the remainder choosing the Preventive Service, Fire Services or the Prisons Department. Wastage during training has been very small, averaging some 2.5 per cent annually, a figure which compares more than favourably with those for similar schools in Britain and elsewhere.
The school, in temporary premises at Fanling, has a capacity for 300 cadets, with an annual output of 150. At the end of the year an extension of the school, at Dodwell's Ridge at Sheung Shui, had been completed and preparations were well in hand for recruitment of a further 300 cadets during 1977, thus realising a capacity of 600 with an annual output of 300. Long term plans call for a permanent school at Shuen Wan, near Plover Cove, with a capacity of 1,200 and an output of 600 annually, is due for completion in 1980.
As with constable entrants to the Force, the trend is for youths with a higher standard of education to apply to enter the school. This is not surprising in view of the increasing number of secondary places available in Hong Kong. Indeed, in view of the Government's intention to achieve full three-year secondary education within the next few years, the objectives of the school are currently being reviewed. It is hoped that the standard of entrants will be far more uniform than at present - there are currently fairly wide variations in the academic level of cadets not - withstanding the increased number of those with secondary education.
In order to assess the full effect of the Cadet School and to form the basis for future planning and the revision of the syllabus, it is necessary to monitor the performance of ex-cadets following completion of training at the Police Training School and a period of duty in the field. Such an exercise began during 1976 and it involves obtaining views of both cadets and the officers under whom they work in order to achieve a balanced assessment. The results of the exercise, when available, will assist future planning.
Police Adventure Training Unit
The Police Adventure Training Unit was established in 1975, with the first full year of training completed during 1976. Based at the Police Cadet School, the aims of the unit are:
to introduce young men and women of the Force to nature and develop an awareness of the country- side in which they work
to enable them to perform their duties more effec- tively in rural areas
to provide a cadre to assist in the training of Junior Police Call members and the running of youth camps and so on, all of which are part of the com- munity relations efforts of the Force
Throughout the year the unit trains recruit inspectors and volunteers from the regular and auxiliary police in courses which cover camping, map reading, hill walking, cross country expeditions, rock climbing and abseiling, survival training and canoeing. Each course lasts 11 days
and can accommodate up to 60 members.
This form of training has proved most popular and there is a considerable waiting list of applicants. Many of those who have already undergone the course have subsequently joined the Police Adventure Club which numbers more than 200 active members and is affiliated to the Police Sports Association.
The adventure training course for Women Police officers is rugged, and helps prepare them for the long hours they spend with their male colleagues policing Hong Kong.
Welfare
In a large organisation such as the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, the welfare of its members must be of prime concern. The chief responsibility rests on commanders and super- visory officers at all levels - from the most newly-promoted sergeant to the Commissioner. However, much of the formal work and co-ordination is vested in the Senior Force Welfare Officer and the Welfare Office.
The scope of the office broadly embraces welfare projects; marital, family and personal problems; police children's education; police primary schools; loans and grants; well- being of police patients in hospital; social, recreational and sports activities; police co-operatives; police scout groups; employment for pensioners and members of police families; arrangements for funerals; and many other welfare func- tions. Police officers, civilian staff, pensioners, widows and their families are all eligible for such assistance.
The office is also closely involved in the running of the Police Welfare Fund, the Police Children's Education
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