PUBLIC ORDER
for moving offences increased by 4.4 per cent compared with 1995. Police and traffic wardens issued 1.7 million tickets for parking offences during the year, representing a decrease of 11.5 per cent when compared with the 1.92 million tickets issued in 1995. These decreases can be attributed to increasing congestion which caused the diversion of more police resources to traffic control rather than enforcement.
Police Licensing Office
The Commissioner of Police, through the Police Licensing Office, is the Licensing Authority for various licences and permits. As the Societies Officer, he also accepts notification of the establishment of local societies.
On June 1, 1996, the Watchmen Ordinance was repealed and replaced by the Security and Guarding Services Ordinance, aimed at improving the security and guarding services. In all, 56 663 applications for the Security Personnel Permit were received.
During the year, a total of 1 052 notifications of public meetings and processions and 1 089 applications for lion dance permits were received. The revised procedures and higher threshold for notification that came into effect with the commencement of the Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance in late 1995 worked smoothly and there was only one appeal against conditions set by Police to ensure public safety and public order. The office also processed 11 applications for pawnbroker licences, 43 for massage establishment licences and 48 for temporary liquor licences.
A total of 174 persons applied to possess firearms for competition or target shooting and a total of 1 843 firearms licences were granted in 1996. During the year, a review of the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance (Chapter 238) was completed. The Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Bill 1996 was introduced into the Legislative Council. It aims to improve the existing licensing framework to ensure that licensed firearms are used safely.
In 1996, 1 052 societies notified their establishment and none was dissolved. A total of 7 597 have provided notification of their establishment.
Marine Police
The Marine Region was reorganised into two new districts Marine Outer Waters District and Marine Port District - in 1996.
Major construction programmes on Chek Lap Kok, Lantau and the North-West New Territories during the year, coupled with the increasing number of river traders from China, contributed to the continuous growth of sea traffic and consequent policing commitment in the harbour and the western waters of the territory. Traffic flow in the harbour improved as a result of combined 'Rule of the road' operations with Marine Department designed to make correct use of fairways. ·
Shark prevention measures were installed at all gazetted beaches in Sai Kung to protect swimmers. Environmental concerns, particularly on the use of explosives or toxic substances to capture fish, were accorded a high priority. This led to stepped-up checks on vessels carrying live fish and the seizure of 388 kg of explosives.
As a result of stringent enforcement action and close liaison between Marine Police and their counterparts in the adjacent provinces of China, smuggling activities involving speedboats, particularly dai feis and chung feis, continued to drop during
279