XN000022-1978-02-15 — Page 3

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„EDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1978

HEAD OF POLICE ADVISERS TEAM LEAVES FOR UK AND WILL RETURN IN FOUR WEEKS

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MR. J.W.D. CRANE, HEAD OF THE THREE-MAN TEAM OF SPECIAL POLICE ADVISERS FROM BRITAIN, LEFT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM. HE WILL RETURN IN ABOUT FOUR WEEKS.

MR. CRANE SAID THAT THE TEAM HAD MADE A VERY GOOD START TO THE IR ASSIGNMENT. THEY HAD VISITED DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, IN KOWLOON, THE NEW TERRITORIES AND IN MARINE DISTRICT, DIVISIONAL POLICE STATIONS, THE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL AND AUXILIARY POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

THEY HAD HELD FREQUENT DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, AND HAD TALKED WITH MANY MEMBERS OF THE FORCE AT ALL LEVELS.

THEY HAD MET REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS' ASSOCIATION AND THE TWO INSPECTORS' ASSOCIATIONS, AND INTEND TO MEET REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION AFTER ITS ELECTION.

THE TEAM HAD VISITED DEPARTMENTS OF THE .C.A.C. FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF.

MR. CRANE STRESSED THAT THE ROLE OF THE TEAM IS TO ADVISE ON THE ORGANISATION OF THE POLICE FORCE AND ON THE PROCEDURES OF THE I.C.A.C.

+WE HAVE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME SO FAR GETTING TO KNOW HOW THE TWO ORGANISATIONS OPERATE,+ HE SAID.

*THIS IS A NECESSARY FIRST STEP. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND AND IDENTIFY LINES OF ENQUIRY BEFORE WE CAN OFFER USEFUL ADVICE.+

THE TEAM HAS HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE UMELCO POLICE GROUP (CHAIRED BY SIR SIDNEY GORDON) AND THE 1.C.A.C. COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE (CHAIRED BY SIR YUET-KEUNG KAN). IT HAS HAD MEETINGS WITH THE PREVENTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY RELATIONS OF THE I.C.A.C.

+THESE DISCUSSIONS, + MR. CRANE SAID, +WERE VERY USEFUL AND HAVE GIVEN US AN INSIGHT INTO PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND FEELINGS. HE ADDED THAT HE INTENDED TO SEEK THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS OF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, SUCH AS DISTRICT FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME COMMITTEES, AT A LATER STÅGE.

DURING MR. CRANE'S ABSENCE, HIS COLLEAGUES, CHIEF

SUPER INTENDENT ALFRED WALLEM AND CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT ERIC HUMPHREY, WILL CONTINUE WITH THEIR WORK. IN PARTICULAR, THEY WILL CONSIDER STAFF WELFARE, RECRUITMENT, TRAINING AND CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE FORCE.

MR. CRANE SAID THAT HE HAD TO LEAVE AT THE PRESENT TIME BECAUSE OF A LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT, BUT HE WOULD RETURN IN MID-MARCH WHEN HE HOPED THE TEA, ÎN CONJUNCTION WITH POLICE HEADQUARTERS, WILL HAVE COMPLETED THE RESEARCH STAGE OF THIS MISSION AND BE PASSING TO THAT OF ACTION.

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