PUBLIC ORDER
Criminal Information
The Criminal Records Bureau maintains criminal records on people convicted of crime in Hong Kong. During the year, 90 892 new conviction records were filed. The bureau maintains information on wanted people, missing persons and outstanding warrants of arrest. This information is available to Police Force members through the Enhanced Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System (EPONICS) which the bureau maintains round-the-clock. Other records and indices maintained in the bureau include details of missing vehicles, a computerised suspect album library which assists victims and witnesses to identify suspects, an index of crime information sent to the Police Force by members of the public and a system that can provide a means of identifying suspects by their modus operandi.
Forensic Firearms Examination
The Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau continued to play an important role in the investigation of firearms-related crimes by improving its quality of services to the Police Force and other disciplined services. The bureau is an American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors accredited laboratory (since 2000) and ranks in equal status with, for example, the FBI Laboratory.
The bureau's Scanning Electron Microscope and the computerised Integrated Bullet and Cartridge Identification System remained the most advanced pieces of equipment in the Asian region in solving firearms-related crimes.
Identification
The Identification Bureau plays a significant role in the investigation and detection of crimes through providing services relating to fingerprint identification, collection of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) samples and photography.
Utilising cutting-edge technologies in the recovery of fingerprints from exhibits/crime scenes, coupled with the highly sophisticated Computer Assisted Fingerprint Identification System, has brought about a breakthrough in the power of fingerprint evidence as a tool in the investigation of crimes. In 2002, 1 733 persons were identified in connection with 1 571 cases, of which 209 were Court of First Instance cases requiring expert evidence.
Scene of Crime officers provide a fast response to call-out requests from investigators with attendance maintained at 90 per cent within 45 minutes of request. During the year, 3 831 buccal swabs (oral swabs) were taken from suspects, volunteers and convicted persons, and 5 310 DNA samples were recovered from crime scenes for analysis by the Government Laboratory. Officers of the Photographic Section attended 4773 crime scenes, producing 91 729 monochrome and 1 324 043 colour prints and slides.
Liaison
The Liaison Bureau acts as a coordination centre in dealing with all police-related inquiries from overseas police organisations and local consulate officials.
The bureau's Liaison Division is responsible for liaison with Mainland police authorities. Close liaison has been maintained with the Interpol China National Central Bureau in Beijing, the Guangdong Liaison Office, the Shenzhen and Zhuhai Liaison Sub-Offices of Guangdong and other Mainland law enforcement
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