PUBLIC ORDER
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Because of the rural nature of the outlying islands, crime levels in Marine District are lower than in the remainder of Hong Kong. In 1977, 284 crimes were reported and, of these, 173 were solved. An increasingly important aspect of policing the islands is the need to cope with the thousands of campers, hikers and picnickers who flock there at weekends and on holidays.
Marine CID investigates all forms of illegal immigration involving syndicates. A total of 151 illegal immigrants were arrested by marine police.
Community Relations
Emphasis continued to be placed during the year on the need to promote good rela- tions with the public. There are now 16 Police Community Relations Officers working throughout Hong Kong to bring about a closer understanding between the police and residents, business people and community organisations within particular areas. The Commissioner of Police frequently meets community leaders in all parts of the territory.
An important link with the future citizens of Hong Kong is the police-oriented youth organisation Junior Police Call, which marked its third anniversary in August with a membership of 200,000 and a week of celebrations. The main objectives of the club are to promote good citizenship, to provide a range of leisure activities for the young to encourage them to help people who are less fortunate, and to give them the opportunity to work with the police against crime. The club has weekly television and radio programmes in Chinese, and columns in the Chinese and English Press.
In addition, weekly police report programmes - 15 minutes in Chinese and 5 minutes in English are screened on all five television channels. They feature crimes the public might help solve by coming forward with clues, information and other assistance.
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The police and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce together sponsor a Good Citizen Award scheme to encourage the public to help combat crime. Almost 500 people aged from 10 to 70 have received certificates and financial awards amount- ing to more than $500,000 since the scheme began in 1973.
During the year, preparations were made for a third Young People's Help the Police Competition to be launched in April, 1978. The four major prizewinners will receive a two-week holiday in the United States. The winners of the two previous competitions visited Britain and Australia.
Members of the public are able to register complaints about police procedures or misconduct by police officers through a Complaints Against Police Office.
The Complaints Against Police Office was expanded in September, 1977, from 10 to more than 40 police and civilian personnel. The office monitors all investigations into complaints made against members of the force, and investigates all complaints of misconduct by police officers other than those which allege criminal offences (which are passed to the CID).
Also in September, at the request of the Commissioner of Police, the UMELCO Police Complaints Group, an independent body with the task of reviewing the hand- ling of such complaints, was established. The group comprises six unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, the Solicitor General and two senior police officers, with the administrative secretary of the UMELCO Office and a police officer serving as joint secretaries. The group meets fortnightly.