PUBLIC ORDER
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There was a significant improvement in the recruitment of constables during the year. A total of 9 885 applications for constables were received, with 1789 subsequently being taken on strength. Compared with 1991, the number of applications increased by 615 (6.8 per cent) while the number appointed to the rank rose by 543 (43.6 per cent).
Conditions of Service
In 1991 the Commissioner made several submissions to the Administration, proposing among other things that a special allowance be given to retain junior officers in particular as well as to attract new entrants. An inter-departmental Study Group on the Recruitment and Retention of Junior Police Officers was appointed in early 1992. This group published its findings in May. A total of 42 recommendations were made relating to salaries, quarters and conditions of service. All junior police officers subsequently received an average five per cent salary increase.
Training
Training continues to be a vital part of a police officer's career, starting with basic training on recruitment, followed by in-service training, which takes place both locally and overseas, and training after promotion.
Training for newly recruited inspectors and constables takes place at the Police Training - School at Wong Chuk Hang, a modern 18 hectare campus. The 36-week inspectors' and the 24-week constables' initial training courses cover similar projects: criminal law, social studies, police and court procedures, drill, firearms, first aid, physical fitness, swimming, life saving and self defence. Inspectors are trained to higher levels than constables and their course includes training in management and leadership. As part of recruit training, expatriate inspectors study colloquial Cantonese while functional English is taught to local inspectors.
In-service training follows at regular intervals throughout an officer's service, mainly to keep officers up-to-date with new legislation and procedures. It also consists of tailor-made courses for officers in more specialised branches such as marine, traffic, catering, financial investigation and instructional work. In addition, language courses of English, Mandarin and Vietnamese are run. During the year, some 50 officers were sent to the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia for manage- ment, specialist and technical training.
The Force encourages officers who, on their own initiative, seek to improve their job-related skills by enrolling in local tertiary institutes on a part-time basis or by undertaking distance learning courses. A prime example was the successful completion by 21 officers of the Hong Kong University Certificate course in criminal justice in the year. They are now eligible to proceed to the two year part-time Master of Arts course in public order. Subject to the exigencies of the service, these officers are granted day release to attend lectures.
Promotion training takes place as soon as possible after an officer's promotion, at the Police Training School for non-commissioned officers and at Force Training Wing Head- quarters in Hennessy Centre for chief inspectors and superintendents. The instruction is specifically designed to equip officers with the management and decision making skills necessary for their new ranks. It serves to broaden their outlook and provide an effective base for their further development. The syllabi consist of lectures from a wide cross section