PUBLIC ORDER
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A memorable event for the force was the visit in February of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra and the Honourable Angus Ogilvy. As Honorary Commandant-General of the Royal Hong Kong Police, Princess Alexandra was the guest of honour at the Police Chinese New Year Fair at the Kai Tak Club, which was attended by some 5,000 members of the force and their families.
Overall, the year within the police force was mainly one of planned consolidation and improvement. The appointment of a Police Administration Officer, at the Deputy Com- missioner of Police level, increased the development capability of the force and further strengthened liaison between the police and the central administration of the government. The year also saw the reorganisation into two separate wings of the Operations and Support Department in police headquarters. Development continued with the opening of the Tuen Mun Police Division and the completion of six neighbourhood police units and six police reporting centres.
The process of consolidation also continued in the recruitment field and targets for an additional 2,000 constables and 198 inspectors were set for the 1980-1 financial year. In line with the policy of placing greater emphasis on the standard of officer recruited, the minimum entry qualification for constables was raised to Form 5.
Force arrangements for dealing with the public and the media were reviewed and internal training on community relations was increased for all ranks. These measures, along with additional efforts in all aspects of public relations, encouraged more people to become involved in the fight against crime. During 1980, members of the public were responsible for 11 per cent of all arrests made - an all-time record.
In November, two auxiliary police constables PC Chan Kwan-fai and PC Tung Chi-kan were invited to Buckingham Palace to receive the Queen's Gallantry Medal. It was the first time the award had been bestowed upon members of the auxiliary police. The two men were honoured for their bravery during a shooting incident involving three armed men in 1979.
In the course of the year, two police officers gave their lives while on duty and a further 102 were injured.
The inquest and subsequent Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the death of Police Inspector John MacLennan, who was found dead in his Ho Man Tin flat, was the focus of considerable public attention.
Crime
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During 1980, 73,838 crimes (excluding blackmail and associated thefts) were reported to the police, compared with 62,346 in 1979. Of these 37,470 were detected, giving a detection rate of 50.7 per cent compared with 51.9 per cent the previous year.
A total of 27,552 people were arrested compared with 23,374 in 1979. Adults prosecuted totalled 23,699, and juveniles (under 16 years) numbered 3,853 - giving increases of 14.3 per cent and 45.9 per cent, respectively, over the previous year. The increase in juvenile delinquency is causing serious concern.
Triads
The Triad Society Division continued to exert pressure on organised triad gang activities. In line with changes in tactics by various gangs, the charter of the division has been slightly modified to concentrate on largescale protection, monopoly and other extortion-type rackets involving public transport, redecoration companies, resite areas and squatter exploitation, with the aim of apprehending the organisers.