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PUBLIC ORDER
A total of 111 inspectors, both male and female, joined the force during the year, of whom 87 were from overseas, compared with 31 in the previous year. Constable strength was 1,179-of which 141 were women. The number of inspectors and constables who passed out from the school was 81 and 753 compared with 55 and 518 respectively in 1972.
The extended interview system introduced in 1970 to test the suitability of local applicants for the post of police inspector was attended by 87 applicants. The interview lasts three days and is designed to test applicants' powers of English com- prehension and expression, maturity, initiative, common sense and powers of leader- ship. Of those who attended the interviews 13 were taken on strength as probationary inspectors.
Besides the basic training of probationary inspectors and recruit police consta- bles, in-service/continuation/advanced training courses were held for 1,097 serving officers during the year. The aim of these courses is to refresh and bring police officers up-to-date with the law and force procedure, and to develop their leadership and man-management qualities, particularly in the case of courses held for police officers recently promoted. In addition, traffic training courses are held for inspectors, sergeants and police constables as a regular part of in-service training.
The school also held two police service courses for a total of 37 boys and girls aged between 14 and 20 as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force
The strength of the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force at the end of the year was 6,760 representing an increase of 2,999 compared with the figure at the close of 1972. The establishment of the force was increased to 7,000 all ranks in August 1973.
The increase in size of the force was the result of an intensive recruiting campaign launched in November 1972. The training of recruits who joined the force as a result of the campaign has continued throughout the year.
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By the end of the year the auxiliaries were supplying an average of 1,500 officers daily to support the regular police in their beat and anti-crime patrol duties. Auxiliary police officers performing these duties made many arrests.
Members of the force are required to undergo 14 full days and 96 hours training a year. Seven of the training days are spent at an annual camp. Duties in support of regular police are purely voluntary and additional to periods of training. Apart from their normal training auxiliary police officers attended additional weapon training courses and internal security training courses.
Traffic
During 1973 10.63 miles of road were laid bringing the total to 637.30, an increase of 1.7 per cent. With 202,775 vehicles registered at the end of 1973, traffic density on the roads was 318.19 vehicles per mile.