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PUBLIC ORDER
Marine Region
It was a year of change for many in the sea divisions of the marine police, as the Marine Region of the Royal Hong Kong Police brought into service 21 new launches, of three different types, as part of a fleet modernisation programme.
The upsurge in illegal immigration placed considerable demands on the Marine Region. The problem of smuggling also persisted during 1993, but suitable resources were deployed to combat such illegal activities. A dramatic decrease was recorded in the large-scale smuggling of electrical goods and stolen vehicles. Factors behind this included changes to the law in China to restrict the import of vehicle parts and a ban on the registration of right-hand-drive vehicles. Fluctuations in the value of the Chinese currency also made the smuggling of electrical goods less profitable. Smugglers continued to vary their methods of operation, and enforcement agencies maintained a flexible approach to tackle the problem. This sustained high-priority effort on all fronts saw record seizures of goods and vessels during the year.
Policing of the remote communities in Mirs Bay received a boost with the opening of a new police post on the small island of Tap Mun, and the installation of improved communications equipment in the post on Peng Chau Island. The construction of a police post on Kat O Island commenced in December.
Bomb Disposal
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit expanded to an establishment of six full-time operators, with the recruitment of the first local Assistant Force Bomb Disposal Officer. The operators rendered safe over 5 025 explosive devices, ranging from improvised bombs made by criminals to unexploded shells, aircraft bombs and pyrotechnics.
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Fortunately, the year saw a reduction in the use of hand grenades by criminals in Hong Kong, and much of the work of the EOD Unit involved the safe defusing and recovery large pieces of ordnance from the many dredgers operating in the territory's waters.
The unit continued to upgrade its equipment and response capabilities in line with worldwide improvements in EOD technology. Together with the increased use of helicopter deployment, this resulted in a faster response time, with a corresponding reduction in disruption to the public.
Community Relations
The long-standing objective of enlisting public support in the fight against crime continued through 1993, with emphasis on preventive measures to protect personal property. A wide range of publicity materials was issued to spread the messages that individual crime victims suffered losses, that the community as a whole bore the costs and that these effects could be minimised by individual watchfulness.
The Good Citizen Award Scheme and the Good Citizen of the Year Award Scheme, introduced in 1972 and 1984, respectively, continued to serve as effective means of promoting public involvement in the fight against crime. Jointly administered by the police and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the two schemes have so far seen 2 342 and 26 persons, respectively, presented with the awards.
In its 13th year of operation, the police hotline, 527 7177, was still the most popular channel for the public to report crime information. A total of 6 974 calls were received, resulting in 822 arrests for various crimes.