PUBLIC ORDER
January 1996 had provided valuable information on how to improve the Force's service and performance.
The Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) (Amendment) Regulations 1995, which came into operation in June 1996, introduced legislation covering the wearing of seat belts by middle front-seat passengers in private cars, taxis, light buses and goods vehicles, and rear-seat passengers in private cars when such seat belts have been fitted. The new regulations should assist in reducing passenger casualties in traffic accidents.
On June 1, 1996, the Watchmen Ordinance was repealed and replaced by the Security and Guarding Services Ordinance. In all, 116 698 watchmen are issued with Watchmen's Permits under the Watchmen Ordinance. These will be transferred to the new Security Personnel Permits in a phased programme over the next five years.
Marine Region was restructured in April, as a result of New Territories South Region taking over responsibility for the policing of Lantau Island. Marine Outer Waters District now includes North, East and West Divisions, with Marine Port District having South, Harbour and an enlarged Cheung Chau Division. The Marine Regional Headquarters moved to new premises at Sai Wan Ho on Hong Kong Island at the end of the year. A parade was held in November to mark the occasion as the previous Headquarters had been occupied for 112 years, and in 1994 had been declared a historical building.
A new Finance Department was set up on April 15 with a view to strengthening financial controls and planning. Headed by a Financial Controller pegged at the civilian equivalent of Assistant Commissioner rank, the department will develop a range of financial systems to give Force managers a clearer picture of where and how resources are spent. It is also responsible for the Force's Budget planning as well as Stores and Internal Audit.
Owing to the shrinking population of Vietnamese Migrants in Hong Kong, Tai A Chau Detention Centre, which opened in February 1991 and housed some 9 600 Vietnamese at full capacity, was closed in September. Some 5 600 people were transferred to the Whitehead Detention Centre pending repatriation to Vietnam. Tai A Chau was the last detention centre under police management.
Crime
Reported crimes in 1996 totalled 79 050, a decrease of 14 per cent compared with the 91 886 crimes recorded in 1995. The crime rate stood at 1 253 cases per 100 000 of the population, a decrease of 16 per cent, compared with 1995.
Violent crime, which includes murder, wounding, serious assault, rape, indecent assault, kidnapping, blackmail, criminal intimidation, robbery and arson, declined to 15 191 cases, compared with 17 087 in 1995. Robbery, wounding and serious assault accounted for some 72 per cent of the total number of violent crimes in 1996.
The situation regarding vehicle theft continued to improve. Overall, 2 561 motor vehicles were reported missing in 1996, a drop of 40 per cent compared with 1995. The number of robberies involving the use of firearms both genuine and pistol-like objects was 83, a decrease of 49 per cent compared with 1995.
In all, 40 741 crimes or 52 per cent of the total were detected, with 47 157 people arrested for various criminal offences. Of those arrested, 6 479 were juvenile offenders (aged between seven and 15 years) and 7 941 were young persons (16 to 20).
271