PUBLIC ORDER
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The Main Fingerprint Collection Section is responsible for maintaining the finger- print records of convicted people and is used to determine previous criminal convic- tions. The collection contains the fingerprints of 378,545 people; during the year, 44,125 arrested persons' fingerprints were searched and 22,551 were found to have previous convictions. This section also undertakes searches for security and vetting purposes. A charge of $90 per search is levied for people requiring 'police clearance' in support of visa applications to visit or reside in other countries. This has resulted in revenue amounting to $578,430 since the charge was introduced on June 1, 1978.
The Photographic Section, staffed by professional photographers, deals with all aspects of forensic photography. During the year the section produced 339,882 photographs. The newly-established colour laboratory produced a total of 17,304 colour photographs and transparencies._
Interpol Bureau
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Hong Kong is a member of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) and has a bureau operating within the Criminal Investigation Department Head- quarters. Because of its geographical location, a healthy liaison with other police forces is maintained and the bureau is probably one of the most active in Southeast Asia. Its work means Royal Hong Kong Police Force officers frequently travel abroad on duty and also assist officers from other countries visiting Hong Kong in the course of their enquiries. The force has two officers seconded to the Interpol General Secretariat in Paris and another officer attached to the British Embassy in Bangkok.
Police Districts
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For policing purposes Hong Kong is divided into four territorial districts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories and Marine. In turn each district is divided into divisions: four in Hong Kong, six in Kowloon, five in the New Territories and three in Marine. Each district has a headquarters and a criminal investigation department. The three land districts also have traffic offices.
Hong Kong Island District covers the territory's major centres for finance, com- merce and government. The most densely-populated areas on the island are on the north coast, but in recent years there has been considerable residential property development on the south side of the island, at Repulse Bay and its neighbouring areas, and in Aberdeen. The population of Hong Kong Island totals 1.1 million, giving a population density of 14,100 per square kilometre. The total police establish- ment in the district is 3,045 officers and 474 civilians.
Kowloon District is the international gateway of Hong Kong. Its precincts cover Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak; the Ocean Terminal and the Kowloon- Canton Railway terminus at Hung Hom. The district features a variety of lifestyle extremes, ranging from luxurious residential areas and modern tourist and commercial centres to the ancient Walled City and the picturesque rural region of Sai Kung. This diversity, together with more than half the territory's population, results in a range of unique problems and difficulties. It is, therefore, not surprising that crime in the district accounted for 61.9 per cent of Hong Kong's total crime in 1978. Establishment in Kowloon is 5,561 police officers and 927 civilians.