PUBLIC ORDER
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Promotions
In 1999, 19 officers were promoted to the rank of Senior Superintendent and above, 13 Chief Inspectors and 13 Senior Inspectors to Superintendent and Chief Inspector respectively, 13 Station Sergeants to Inspector, 50 Sergeants to Station Sergeant and 204 Police Constables to Sergeant. Within the civilian grades, 173 general grade, 47 common grade and 32 departmental grade officers were promoted.
During the year, some 167 disciplined officers retired from the force. Among them, 14 were invalided out, 146 resigned, six were transferred to other departments, and 35 were either dismissed or had their service terminated. Likewise, 27 general grade, one common grade and 27 departmental grade civilian staff left the force.
Welfare
The Personnel Services Branch provides a wide range of support services in the areas of personal and family welfare, sickness, financial protection, bursaries and scholarships for children, psychological consultations, assistance with retirement, sports and recreation, catering and the allocation and maintenance of departmental quarters. The major sources of funding for most welfare activities in the force are the Police Welfare Fund, the Police Children's Education Trust and the Police Education and Welfare Trust, which derive their income mainly from public donations.
Welfare staff conducted 5 986 casework interviews and paid 4 306 visits to sick and injured officers in hospital or at their homes. The casework services are supplemented by a series of group work and education programmes.
The force-wide Healthy Lifestyle Campaign, which promotes physical, financial and mental well-being, continued with activities aimed at encouraging officers to stop smoking and be financially prudent.
Psychological services are provided to police officers, civilian staff and their immediate family members. A new Kowloon office started operation in April.
Catering services in the force are provided by contract food suppliers. The Police Catering Division provides catering support at major crowd control and emergency situations. It also plays an important role in the introduction of modern catering practices and maintenance of high standards of hygiene at police canteens.
Force Housing
The Force Quartering Division allocates and manages 11 635 quarters for junior police officers (JPOs), 622 for inspectorate officers and 210 post-tied or operational quarters.
To promote home ownership among JPOs, a pilot scheme was launched in April under which a quota of 80 places under the 1999-2000 Home Purchase Scheme and an equal number of places under the Civil Service Public Housing (Special Quota) were made available for allocation to JPOs who were residing in police departmental quarters.
Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force
The Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force (HKAPF) comprises volunteers from all walks of life and has a proud history dating from its establishment in 1914. At the end of the year, its strength stood at 5 213.