XN000022-1996-10-04 — Page 24

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An increase in Police front-line operational strength. For example, 1,550 additional policemen were put into front-line duties since 1994/95 and this trend is expected to continue;

The strengthening of Police crime-fighting units, by (a) reorganising the then Organised Crime and Triad Group into an Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, and a separate Criminal Intelligence Bureau ; (b) strengthening the Narcotics Bureau for better intelligence; and (c) strengthening Regional and District Anti-Triad Units to carry out more anti-triads operations;

The modernisation of Police equipment to make them more efficient, including improvements to computer systems and communications equipment, better fire-arms and bullet-proof vests, and a new generation of Marine Police fleet;

Legislative and administrative improvements, including the enactment of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance, establishment of a witness protection programme, introduction of new legislations on change of identity of high-risk witnesses and tighter control of arms and ammunitions; and

Improved co-operation and liaison with Chinese public security organs to deal with cross-border criminal activities.

Mr Lai added that in parallel with continuing efforts to improve the capability of the Police Force, the authorities were also embarking on a strategy to maintain the confidence and trust of the community in the Force.

"We aim to do so by strengthening the role of the Independent Police Complaints Council in monitoring and reviewing investigations into complaints against the Police, and improving the transparency and capability of Police investigations into such complaints.

"We are also fostering a service culture in the Police Force and developing a Force Anti-corruption Strategy aimed at ensuring a clean and corruption-free Police Force," he said,

On the VM issue, Mr Lai pointed out that over 9,000 VMs had been repatriated to Vietnam so far this year, as compared to 2,600 in the whole of last year. As of today, there are about 12,000 VMs in Hong Kong while the authorities are returning them to Vietnam at the rate of between 1,300 to 1,400 a month.