this has not made any easier the task which the Force faces in maintaining law and order. Strenuous efforts are being made to improve the situation and plans are being made to rebuild four of the demolished buildings at an early date.
Police Training School.
To assist in rebuilding a trustworthy Police Force a Police Training School was re-established in October, 1945, to supply trained recruits to the Force. The school is under the control of a Commandant of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police who is assisted by two European inspectors and six Chinese inspectors. At first the school was established in requisitioned premises at Stanley but it was later moved to Kowloon. In order to release these premises as early as possible, arrangements are under way for the establishment of a permanent training school at Aberdeen in a location more suitable for the purpose.
The course of instruction for rank and file is a period of three months and the syllabus of instruction has been greatly amplified during the year to keep abreast of modern police methods. Instruction now includes training in the use of most firearms, as well as tear smoke grenades and in such subjects as general criminal law, forensic medicine, public hygiene, police orders, routine, and so on. 615 recruits were passed out by the school during the year.
Traffic Control.
In the introduction to this section, reference was made to the traffic problem in the urban areas. This is now one of the most acute problems facing the Police Force. The continued importation into the Colony of vehicles both private and com- mercial has presented acute problems of road congestion and parking space. Some progress towards solving these problems has been made during the year by means of the introduction of one-way traffic at busy centres and by the provision of additional parking facilities. The extent to which the problems can be resolved is limited by the lack of open spaces in the urban area.
Special wireless control devices and additional motor cycles have been obtained during the year and are proving of great assistance not only in control of traffic but also towards the general maintenance of law and order in the Colony.
Decorations.
During the year, His Excellency the Governor presented a number of decorations which had been awarded to members of the Police Force. Most of these were for services performed during the war but a number also were for gallantry or devotion to duty since the liberation of the Colony. Among the latter, was an award of the King's Police Medal for Gallantry to a
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