officers, also encourages rapport and interchange of views over a cross-section of Hong Kong society.
A police scholarship scheme enables qualified and promising officers to attend degree courses at the Hong Kong University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Since the scheme was introduced in 1970, a total of 18 serving police officers have been awarded scholarships to undertake first or second degree courses at either of the two local universities. Six officers have graduated, five are expected to graduate in 1978 and the remainder in 1979 or 1980. Up to six scholarships may be awarded each year and it was pleasing to note that in 1977 a Woman Inspector was a successful candidate.
In addition to training within the Force every opportunity is taken to send officers overseas to attend courses which will expand and diversify their knowledge and experience. During 1977 a total of 48 officers of all ranks attended overseas courses attachments and seminars in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, USA, Canada, Malaysia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. These courses and attachments ranged through a variety of subjects including command and management, CID training, traffic manage- ment, general police duties, Interpol activities, narcotics control, electronic and mechanical police aids, RCMP and FBI courses, crime prevention, serious crime and criminal intelligence tactics.
The need for language tuition also has been recognised as of major importance. The ability of Chinese officers to speak English and for overseas officers to speak Cantonese and certain other languages or dialects in some cases- is important. All members of the Force are encouraged to obtain a language qualification. It is a condition for con- firmation to the permanent establishment, or the offer of a further contract for an overseas Inspectorate officer (except for a few specialist posts) to obtain Government certificates in colloquial Cantonese and fluency in English is a requirement for appointment to the Inspectorate.
Language instruction begins as soon as an officer, Inspectorate or PC, joins the Force as part of his induction training at the Police Training School. The school has a language training wing with a modern language laboratory and a staff of qualified language tutors seconded from the Civil Service Training Division. Thereafter, the officer is given facilities - time off to attend further courses of instruc- tion, refund of course fees and the award of bonuses or increments - plus the incentive of promotion, to better his language proficiency.
More than 4,700 Station Sergeants, Sergeants and PCs have an English language qualification, and with the con- tinuing improvement in the educational standard of recruits joining the Force as PCs the level of English language capability is increasing.
During the year, 173 overseas Inspectors and two mem- bers of civilian staff obtained a Chinese language qualifica- tion.
A working party is considering, in conjunction with representatives from the Civil Service Training Division and the Civil Service Examinations Unit, the language requirements of the Force and measures which can be taken to meet them.
Training in the field of internal security is undertaken by officers from Constable to Superintendent level at the Police Tactical Unit. This training comprises a 13-week
intensive course followed by attachments in districts. The officers under training work together throughout as members of a self contained company.
Promotion at all levels is gained through alifying examinations, continuing reports and annual élection processes. A feature of these processes is the potential officer scheme whereby Rank and File officers, who have become academically qualified may be selected for direct promotion to Inspector. During 1977 as a result of this scheme, 42 Rank and File officers achieved Inspector rank.
Emphasis is placed on career planning and a Career Planning Officer co-ordinates schemes aimed at preparing officers for advancement and employing them in posts suitable to their skills and potential.
The Senior Force Training Officer acts as an advisor to the Commissioner and his staff and the heads of training establishments in all matters pertaining to training and development. In addition he co-ordinates many of the training courses and examinations and liaises with other training establishments, in particular the Government Training Division, the universities, external organisations and overseas forces.
Because of the rapid expansion of the Force and in- service, command and specialist training, the need for a further building development and modernisation pro- gramme at the Police Training School has become pressing. Future planning will also include modern training facilities for the Marine Police, Police Tactical Unit, the Detective Training School, Police Driving School and, probably, a police college or academy for command and senior staff training.
Police Cadet School
The Police Cadet School was established in September 1973 at Fan Gardens, Fanling. During its first four years of operation, the school has provided an increasingly im- portant reservoir of young blood for the Force. In addition, it also projects an impressive image to the public by its continuous involvement in community affairs and service. The school is unique in that unlike other grammar schools and training establishments, it combines three aspects of training physical, academic and vocational
into one goal. The aims of the school are three-fold:
•
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To prepare young men of normal eyesight and physique, aged 15 to 17 at time of entry, with minimum height of 5 ft. 3 in. and weight 105 lbs., for entry into the Force or other disciplined services.
• To provide a source of reasonably well-educated, orientated and physically fit youths for recruitment into these services.
• To provide partial secondary education, vocational and character training for a proportion of the youth of Hong Kong, to increase their mental and physical well-being, and to prepare them for their adult responsibilities in the community.
In its formative stage, the Police Cadet School had an initial intake of 146 cadets, all boarded at the Fan Gardens camp, where the total capacity is some 300 Cadets. Since the initial intake Cadet population has been expanded. Because of the school's increasing popularity and success, a second site at Dodwell's Ridge camp, Sheung Shui, was opened in January 1977, to cater for an additional 300 Cadets, bringing the total strength to 600. To ensure an
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