PUBLIC ORDER
268
Public Relations
The Police and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce jointly administer the Good Citizen Award and the Good Citizen of the Year Award Schemes. These were introduced in 1972 and 1984 respectively and continue to be effective vehicles for gaining and recognising public support in the fight against crime. The schemes have given recognition to a total of 2 653 public-spirited citizens.
Telephone hotlines and the Crime Information Forms continue to be useful conduits through which the public channel information to the Police. In 1997, 45 375 calls and 1 737 completed forms were received. These sources of information have led to positive results and arrests.
The Junior Police Call (JPC) Scheme is a bridge between Police and the youth. At the end of 1997, its membership reached 205 086. The scheme helps guide its members towards awareness of their civic responsibilities, and becoming law-abiding citizens. In conjunction with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), the Force produces a weekly radio programme, Voice of JPC, which provides a good publicity forum for the co-ordination and promotion of youth activities.
The Force has been producing, jointly with RTHK, two TV programmes: Police Magazine and Police Report, which are broadcast on local Chinese and English channels. The programmes include appeals for information on undetected crimes, advice on road safety and updates of crime trends. The Police Public Relations Branch (PPRB) provides a similar service to Cable TV News Channels. To widen the scope of service, the Radio Traffic Studio in PPRB delivers peak-hour traffic reports to the public through RTHK.
Information on crime, police action and activities is disseminated to all news organisations in Hong Kong around the clock through PPRB. Professional staff seconded from the Information Services Department deal with media enquiries and assist media coverage at major scenes of crime and incident.
In the year, they handled 215 000 media enquiries, organised 326 press conferences and briefings, attended 417 incidents, and issued 3 452 press releases. They also produce a fortnightly newspaper, OffBeat, monitor media coverage of police and criminal activities; and conduct various campaigns, major ones including Fight Crime and Police Recruitment.
Planning and Development
Construction of the new airport police station at Chek Lap Kok was completed in November. Plans on airport-related projects, particularly the in-town check-in facilities, police facilities at various stations along Airport Railway and manpower to police the road link to Chek Lap Kok, were completed and tested to prepare for the opening of the new airport. The newly constructed Tung Chung Police Station was in place to serve an expected population of 150 000 residents.
Planning has begun for the comprehensive redevelopment of Police Headquarters to improve efficiency and more fully utilise the Arsenal Yard site. A modern facility will be built to serve the Force's needs well into the next century. It will be constructed on the existing May House site. The complex will include a new Wan Chai District Headquarters and a Divisional Police Station. The space provided will