PUBLIC ORDER
Interpol
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The Royal Hong Kong Police joined the International Criminal Police Organisation (ICPO) - better known as Interpol in September 1960 as a sub-bureau of the United Kingdom National Central Bureau. In 1995, ICPO had a membership of 176 member countries or bureaux and 11 sub-bureaux including Hong Kong. A Hong Kong police officer is seconded to the ICPO Secretariat General in Lyon, France, to form part of a specialised group.
Interpol aims to ensure and promote the widest possible mutual assistance among police authorities in the prevention and suppression of crime, pursuant to the laws existing in different ICPO member countries and within the spirit of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
Interpol Hong Kong acts as a co-ordination centre in dealing with criminal information and associated inquiries between Hong Kong and Interpol member countries which have diplomatic relations with the UK. It also maintains close liaison with local consulate officials and police agencies.
Partly as a result of increased cross-border criminal activities, liaison with China. has expanded in the past few years. Contacts with Chinese law enforcement organisations have been established at national, provincial and municipal levels, and two Chinese liaison officers have been stationed in Hong Kong since 1993.
Public order
The Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance 1995 was enacted on July 28. It updates provisions which deal with public meetings and processions, in the light of police experience in handling public gatherings and having regard to the Bill of Rights. The previous requirement for the licensing of public processions is replaced with a requirement for advance notification. It is not necessary to notify the police before public meetings and public processions consisting of fewer than 50 persons, and 30 persons, respectively. The ordinance also establishes an Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Procession to consider appeals against any police decision to prohibit the holding of, or to impose conditions on, public gatherings.
No major incidents affected Hong Kong's internal security-in 1995. The Police Tactical Unit (PTU) was committed to anti-crime patrols, illegal immigration operations and crowd management throughout the territory during festive occasions. It also played an important role in maintaining law and order at demonstrations and public gatherings. The PTU provided support to the Correctional Services Department in Vietnamese Migrant Centres with regard to the Orderly Repatriation Programme. The PTU twice had to restore order in the centres after serious rioting. The PTU Headquarters at Fanling houses some highly advanced training facilities. These include a shooting range complex including a 100-metre outdoor range, a 25- meter indoor range and eight mini-ranges using video wall simulation. There are also an assault course, a firearms tactical training tower, a multi-purpose sports ground, a gymnasium and a swimming pool.
More than 2 000 police officers, from the rank of superintendent to constable, were trained in the PTU companies during the year. The PTU is also responsible for the continuation training of the District Internal Security Companies, 22 of which are in the Police Force. The all-female company, 'Tango' Company, which consists of five
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