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to a massive police search operation at the scene and in the rugged surrounding countryside. At the end of November, officers of the Organised and Serious Crime Bureau arrested five young men and charged them with murder. Court proceedings were con- tinuing as the year ended.
Intensive investigations were also launched into an upsurge of criminal acts related to vehi- cles. Over 200 reports of deception relating to motor vehicle transactions were made to police between August 1984 and June. In these cases, buyers and sellers of motor vehicles were deceived by a number of garages into paying exorbitant interest or commission charges. The situation was tackled by a police operation mounted in June. As a result of raids by over 300 police officers on 45 addresses, 14 people were charged with conspiracy to defraud. In the New Territories, the large number of construction projects - arising from the long-term development plans for the region - combined with the opening of more commer- cial and business ventures, attracted threats and demands for 'protection fees'. However, the activities of these extortionists were checked following well planned police operations resulting in the arrest and conviction of a number of leading triad society members.
Police efficiency in the New Territories was greatly improved during the year by the introduction of an interim 'beat radio' system, as a result of which constables on patrol in the new towns were provided with two-way radios. This system will be upgraded in stages within six years to cope with the demand for more effective policing in the region's fast growing urban development.
In 1985, the Royal Hong Kong Police Force continued to extend its use of modern technology and to improve its equipment in the fight against crime.
Police accommodation was kept under review and building projects totalling around $1,100 million were under construction, or being planned, at year's end. Among these is the construction of the new Police Headquarters, within the existing headquarters complex, in Arsenal Yard, Wan Chai. Work on the sub-structure for Phase I is scheduled to start in early 1986. The first phase of this project is expected to be completed in 1989, at a cost of $135 million; the second and third phases are being planned.
Three new police district headquarters, at Sau Mau Ping, Yau Ma Tei and Hong Kong International Airport, were opened during 1985. Planning also proceeded for Kowloon, the most densely populated of the three land regions, to be split into two regions; east and west. The project is expected to be completed in 1989–90.
The Marine Police continued with a 10-year expansion programme and, by the end of the year, had taken delivery of the final 12 divisional patrol launches, each built at a cost of $8.2 million. As the new vessels were commissioned, older vessels were phased out and the sophisticated fleet now bears little resemblance to that of five years ago. Plans are in hand for further expansion with new command and harbour launches and inshore vessels under consideration.
The Police Bands, accompanied by teams of ribbon, lion and dragon dancers, paid a second visit to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and received public acclaim. While in the United Kingdom they made many other guest appearances, in particular, providing a touch of the Orient at a lunch-time concert outside Westminster Cathedral.
Crime
In 1985, 86 418 crimes were reported, compared with 83 532 in 1984. There were 6 745 robberies, a decrease of 6.9 per cent compared with 7 245 the previous year. Burglaries increased, from 12 663 in 1984 to 13 922. The overall detection rate was 45.8 per cent, compared with 42.8 per cent the previous year.