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and the difficulties that daily beset them are not understood. It is therefore vital to the public and police that mutual understanding and regard are always maintained.
IMPORTANT PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE POLICE
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11. The main problem of the year has been illegal immigration. To deal with this problem a new police organization, known as the Anti- Illegal Immigration Branch, directed by an Assistant Commissioner, has been established and the Marine Division has been transferred from the New Territories District to its command.
12. The formation of this organization arose out of a very critical situation which occurred during May, 1962. Owing to relaxed controls beyond the frontier an alarming increase in the number of persons crossing illegally from China occurred during that month and special measures had to be applied to stop them. The Frontier Division was substantially reinforced by other police units and the Armed Services, and special arrangements were made to receive illegal immigrants rounded up and return them across the border to China. During the six weeks ending 26th May, 1962, over 62,000 persons were arrested and returned.
13. But this unprecedented influx was not the end of the matter, for meanwhile the number of persons entering the Colony illegally by sea both direct from China and through Macau, had also risen sharply. In August, therefore the Governor authorized the formation of the Anti- Illegal Immigration Branch to deal with this sea-borne influx. At the end of the year these operations were continuing and illegal immigration by sea had been checked significantly. This problem is described in more detail in the main Annual Report.
14. Road Traffic and parking have continued to present a major problem. The number of vehicles registered has now reached almost 65,600, new registrations during the year being 8,316. Major building development and road works have greatly increased the difficulties of maintaining traffic-flow and of providing and controlling parking. Additional parking has been provided in the Central District of Hong Kong Island and the number of metered parking spaces has been increased in the busiest areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon. The pace of most of the other activities of the Traffic-police is increasing, including the Inspection of Vehicles, Road Safety Campaigns and Prosecutions. There has been a decrease in the number of accidents.
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