PUBLIC ORDER
achieve efficiency; effectiveness and economy. In 2001, 3 000 new JPO departmental quarters at Shun Lee, Kwun Tong, West Kowloon Reclamation area and Lai King are scheduled to be completed in phases. These new quarters will replace sub- standard old quarters at Tin Kwong Road, Queen's Hill, Wong Tai Sin, Cheung Sha Wan and Kennedy Town, which will be returned to Government for redevelopment.
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.
Following a comprehensive review of the HKAPF in 1999, some changes have been made to its role and organisation as well as in the deployment of auxiliary officers. The HKAPF's role had been redefined as a trained manpower reserve to support the regular Police Force, with an internal security role of protecting key points and consular premises and providing staff for command and control centres and station defence. The HKAPF is a reserve to assist in times of natural disasters or civil emergency and to support the regular Police Force in crowd management duties during major public events and festivals and in other operations. Auxiliary Police officers are deployed to police formations throughout the HKSAR in numbers. proportional to the establishment of regular officers.
Independent Police Complaints Council
The main function of the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) is to monitor and review investigations carried out by the Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO) of public complaints against the Police Force. The IPCC is an independent committee whose members are appointed by the Chief Executive. It comprises a chairman, three vice-chairmen and not fewer than eight other members, with The Ombudsman or her representative serving as an ex officio member.
During the year, the IPCC endorsed the findings of 3 548 complaint investigations. An additional 29 Lay Observers were appointed by the Secretary for Security and there are now altogether 56 Lay Observers to observe CAPO's investigations under the expanded IPCC Observers Scheme. The second three-year publicity programme began in April. Activities organised during the year included holding talks at secondary schools and briefings at District Councils and District Fight Crime Committees to introduce the work of the IPCC, and conducting a large-scale public opinion survey to gauge public awareness and understanding of the IPCC's role and function.
Customs and Excise
The Customs and Excise Department is primarily responsible for the collection of revenue and the prevention of revenue evasion concerning dutiable goods, the suppression of narcotics trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, the prevention and detection of smuggling, and the protection of intellectual property rights. It has an establishment of 5 169.
The department also enforces legislation to protect consumer interests, safeguard and facilitate legitimate trade and industry, uphold Hong Kong's trading integrity and fulfil international obligations (see also Chapter 6).
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