PUBLIC ORDER
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The Interpol Division of the bureau represents the force in the International Criminal Police Organisation (ICPO) — Interpol as a sub-bureau of the CNCB. A Hong Kong police officer is seconded to the ICPO General Secretariat in Lyon, France, to work in one of its specialised groups. An officer is also attached to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney, Australia, to enhance co-operation in combating crime.
Public Order
Following the strengthening of the Border District in 1998 by moving the establishment from the Police Tactical Unit to the New Territories North Region, throughout 1999 the new establishment of the tactical unit was fixed at eight companies with a total of 1 360 officers. At any given time, one of these companies. was stationed in a land Region for immediate deployment in the event of an emergency, disaster or a threat to internal security. On a day-to-day basis, the companies undertook a wide range of duties including anti-crime and anti-illegal immigration measures, and crowd management at public events. They were deployed extensively in policing events organised to celebrate the Millennium.
The year was quiet in terms of operational call-outs for the Special Duties Unit, the force's counter-terrorist unit. The unit maintains links with similar units overseas and the exchange of information ensures that Hong Kong's counter-terrorist response is kept at the highest state of readiness.
Bomb Disposal
During the year, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau made safe a variety of bombs ranging from wartime ordnance to home-made devices. In addition, the bureau made a concerted effort to ensure that the force complied with the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, which came into force in 1998 regarding the safe use, storage and transport of ammunition. In addition to instituting training and licensing of the officers involved, the bureau researched and published the Force Ammunition Storage Regulations. These regulations bring the force in line with international guidelines and rules regarding the packaging, labelling, transport, storage and use of ammunition.
In addition to providing training to other departments in the Government and bomb disposal officers from Macau, officers of the bureau provided training in 1999 to bomb disposal personnel in the United States and Europe on such matters as nuclear, biological and chemical terrorism and explosives engineering during their visits to these countries.
Illegal Immigration
In 1999, 10 544 illegal immigrants (IIs) from the Mainland were arrested by police, an average of 29 per day, and a decrease of 20.7 per cent compared with 13 301 in 1998. Of these, 38.2 per cent claimed to have come by sea and the rest across the land boundary. Crossing the boundary by hiding under vehicles was a common tactic.
In connection with the right of abode controversy relating to Articles 22(4) and 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law (the provisions concerning Mainland persons born of permanent Hong Kong residents acquiring right of abode in the SAR), many mainlanders - including overstayers and illegal immigrants - surfaced to claim this right.