73. It should be noted that these figures represent passes and not individuals. Altogether about 300 members of the Rank and File reached Stage VI or above and this is a reassuring figure. It still falls short of the optimum need of the Force (400 per annum) but there is every hope that there will be still more improvement in 1969-70.
OVERSEAS COURSES
74. Five senior and 37 junior officers attended courses of instruction in the United Kingdom, details of which are at Appendix 11.
PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS
75. The Standard I Examination was held periodically at the Police Training School and the Standard II and III Examinations were held as usual in April and November. The Senior Professional Examination was held in July 1968 and January 1969. With the exception of Standard III, the results of these examinations were fairly good. In the case of Standard III, however, the results of the November examination were so poor that a Working Party was appointed to enquire into the reasons for the indifferent performance of so many candidates. This enquiry is still in progress but it is hoped there will be a significant improvement next year.
76. In April, the second Constable-to-Corporal Promotion Examina- tion was held. There were 2,285 candidates who sat at 52 centres throughout the Colony. A multiple-choice question paper was used and marking was by automation, using a data-processing machine. The result was reasonably satisfactory. The third examination in this series is now planned for several thousand candidates. This will be processed for the first time by computer. In only a few hours, a great deal of statistical information respecting individual and overall performance, including question evaluation, will be made available to the Examina- tions Board.
THE POLICE TACTICAL UNIT
77. The Police Tactical Unit, with a Senior Superintendent as Commandant and an Assistant Superintendent as deputy is situated at Fanling in the New Territories. The remainder of the establishment comprises one Chief Inspector, one Senior Inspector, six Inspectors, ten non-commissioned officers and 38 constables who are engaged in instruction and administration.
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