CONTENTS
Page
COMMISSIONER'S REVIEW
5
OPERATIONAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES
Public Order
PERSONNEL
Establishment and strength
7
Communications and Transport
Police Tactical Unit
Promotions, advancements, retirements and awards
Training and development
Police Cadet School
Police Adventure Training Unit
Welfare
Police Dog Unit
Societies and Licensing Office
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force
Band
Sports and recreation
Force housing
Consultative Councils
Complaints
TRAFFIC
Accidents
Road Safety
Prosecutions
Planning and Management
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32
Discipline
CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATION
15
Civilian personnel
HONG KONG ISLAND DISTRICT
Crime and Policing
34
Finance
Stores
Arms
Catering
Police Public Relations Bureau
Traffic
KOWLOON DISTRICT
Crime and Policing
Traffic
37
Planning and Research Division
NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT
41
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT
20
Crime and Policing
Structure of the CID
Traffic
Special Operations Group
Homicide Bureau
Special Crimes Bureau
Triad Society Bureau
Commercial Crimes Bureau
Narcotics Bureau Support Services
MARINE DISTRICT
45
Marine Police Training School
Radio Communications
Crime and Policing
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COMMISSIONER'S REVIEW
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The principal achievement of the Force in 1977 lay in the further successes attained in the fight against crime.
In the decade 1965/1974 there was a dramatic rise in crime, and violent crime in particular increased nine times. Since 1974 we have witnessed a steady decrease in the volume of crime and an increase in detection rates. This pattern continued in 1977, with a 2% decline in total crime and a 10% decrease in violent crime.
The public, of course, made a significant contribution to this favourable trend, stemming from a keener awareness of the vital part they have to play and an ever increasing willingness to give active assistance. The Fight Crime Committees, centrally and locally, also deserve a share of the credit.
As to the Force itself, the reorganisation and strengthen- ing initiated in 1974 continued apace and necessary varia- tions in structure, systems and strategies have undoubtedly paid dividends. The healthy economic climate during the year might also have been a contributory factor to the con- tainment of crime. I say ‘might' because in certain western countries the richer the economy, the greater is the crime problem!! For whatever reasons, the fact remains that the year was one of tangible progress in the fight against crime.
We realise, of course, that crime figures do not tell the whole story, as the percentage of unreported crime, as else- where in the world, remains an unknown quantity. However, the state of Hong Kong's crime is not merely reflected by statistics, but also by comments and reports from a cross- section of the public in the form of community leaders, kai fongs, mutual aid committees and similar bodies. Judging by their views, and that of the 'man in the street', while crime remains a serious problem affecting the lives of every member of our society, people are now generally less apprehensive about it than they were some four or so years ago. In short, whatever the actual incidence of crime may be, we are convinced that it is less than in recent years and that a greater percentage is being reported to Police.
It is pleasing also to note that during the year more and more members of the public turned to the Force, not simply to report crime but to seek help in a variety of ways. This is most encouraging and reflects an increase in our 'referral' role, which is partly due to the 24 hours service the Force provides and is indicative of increased public confidence in the Force.
But I am under no illusions. Much remains to be done especially as the public confidence so steadily earned for most of the year was so badly shaken towards its close by the events I describe later in this review.
Nevertheless, there was in fact never any let-up in the fight against crime. Throughout the year, the Force used well-defined strategies and worked at all times to clearly laid down priorities.
The principal targets were triads, violent crime and organised crime, the latter including narcotics, illegal gam- bling and the exploitation of females. A review of the triad problem in particular led to a further strengthening of anti-triad formations throughout the Force, and there are
now some 500 men who are engaged exclusively on anti- triad operations. But the answer to the triad problem is not one for the Police alone; it is a menace that must be tackled on a broad front by various departments and orga- nisations - and - again - by the public. The backdrop of triad activity has to be borne in mind constantly when con- sidering the overall crime scene, so as to ensure that the accent is placed where it is most needed.
The general strategies and priorities applied in the fight against crime were all aimed at the foregoing targets. A maximum police presence on the ground was maintained by both regular and auxiliary officers, to seize the initiative and so prevent and detect crime. Much hard work was put into the development of an effective criminal intelligence system --a framework for the collection, collation and assessment of information to provide a basis for more effective action against criminals. We also strengthened and improved the Force's capability to investigate serious crime - such as murder, rape, robbery, blackmail and burglaries. Continued efforts were made to neutralise crime syndicates, particularly those involved in organised vice. We had some measure of success in all these spheres, but we are far from finished; we must now not only consolidate our position but con- tinue to advance on all fronts.
It is pleasing to report that the Force's 1977 Recruitment Campaign was a phenomenal success. Well over 2,000 officers and men joined the Force; competition was keen and standards were high. Most men and women now joining as constables have had a secondary education and a good proportion are already academically qualified for the Inspectorate.
During the year the new Command and Control Centres in the three land districts, and the related personalised beat radio scheme, became fully operational, and we have now started to reap the benefits from these most valuable facili- ties. This ultra-modern and sophisticated system enables us to respond rapidly to calls for assistance and to make more flexible and economic use of the manpower at our disposal. Equally important, it provides the man on the beat with the instant capability to obtain information and to summon assistance as needs be. Clearly, this means that each officer is better placed to perform his duties efficiently, and in the confidence that he has behind him the full resources of the Force. Although still in its youth, the beat radio has been widely welcomed by the public and accepted as a significant aid in the fight against crime.
The new computer-aided Command and Control Centres are but one example of the reliance being placed by the Force on scientific and technical aids. We benefit also from computer programmes for modus operandi and vehicle and driver particulars, not to mention the processing of the Traffic Fixed Penalty Ticket systems. In addition, a feasibi- lity study is currently in hand for the computerization of criminal indices and conviction records of which there are over one million. In addition, we are now very largely self supporting in the fields of forensic pathology and chemistry, not to mention ballistics.
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