Eastern Division
As in other areas on the Island, Eastern Division is the scene of development and proposed development in the field of real estate and engineering projects. The Taikoo Dockyard has reduced its ship-repairing services and the land made available is being utilised for the construction of the self contained township, Taikoo Shing. The new residential complex of Nam Fung Sun Chuen has been built and the industrial area in Chai Wan is being expanded. Land also is being reclaimed on the north shore for a container terminal.
During the year there were 3,158 reported cases, or 579.5 per 100,000 population. These figures compare with 3,711 or 969.5 per 100,000 population in 1976. The detec- tion rate was 59.3 per cent against 60.7 per cent in the previous year.
A system of staggered shifts was introduced to ensure the use of the maximum number of regular and Auxiliary police during the identified high risk periods. To combat violent crime, action squads were formed with manpower drawn from both CID and Uniform Branch. These teams work in the streets and patrol high-rise buildings providing 24-hour coverage. The incidence of robberies has been reduced from 37 a month in 1976 to 36.25 a month this year. Burglaries continued to pose a serious problem, especially in high-rise buildings.
Triad and pseudo-triad activity showed a marked de- crease in the face of strenuous police action to eradicate vice and gambling syndicates. Such activity, coupled with the introduction of the Gambling Ordinance, proved to be a successful deterrent to the former casino operators in the division, and known gambling activity is now confined to a small number of off-course bookmakers who are still prepared to take a risk.
Early in 1977 an active group of drug suppliers was neutralised as a result of the arrest of several of its operators. Basically, the level of trafficking in dangerous drugs remained fairly static, though there were small and highly mobile stalls which continued to serve heroin addicts in Holy Cross Village, Shau Kei Wan and on the hillside near Chai Wan Estate.
Good relations were maintained with the Kaifong As- sociations, Area Committees and similar organisations. There were three Neighbourhood Policing Units and two Reporting Centres operating in the division, and more NPUs are planned to provide enhanced police coverage for the new developments mentioned.
The division has been singularly successful with its Junior Police Call activities and the membership of this organisation has jumped from 8,000 to more than 20,000. Its members engaged in such community services as the Po Leung Kuk centenary celebrations, the district fight violent crime campaign and other functions sponsored by the City District Officer. Plans are in hand to establish a permanent clubhouse and to form a bugle band.
Emergency Unit
The primary role of the Emergency Unit is to respond to 999 calls within the district, but, the effect of the new beat radio system led to a reduction of about 14 per cent in the number of calls dealt with, in the first instance, by the unit. This enabled EU personnel to spend more time on crime prevention duties.
The unit provided one 999 car and one general patrol vehicle in each of the four divisions per shift. The 999 car remained available at all times to respond to emergency calls while the general patrol vehicle provided "k-up' facilities, or performed other duties such as crime even- tion patrols, prisoner and cash escorts.
In addition to these duties, the unit provided personnel for the rural patrol teams who work in pairs in the new country parks, around the reservoirs and other scenic areas which are popular with hikers and picnickers. These patrols commence duty at 0600 hours, providing protection for early morning walkers, who, in the past frequently fell victims to robbers in the more remote rural areas.
Traffic
Despite an ever-increasing number of motor vehicles on the road, and the disruption caused by major road works and excavations connected with the mass transit construc- tion, vehicular traffic was kept moving. The seasonal crowds streaming to the beaches on the south side of the island reached their destination without too much inconvenience; in this, the situation was helped by public transportation companies which provided more services to the most popular areas. In the cooler months, when the beaches lose their appeal, spectators attending the racing at Happy Valley and the football matches in the Government Stadium placed a heavy burden on traffic duties. Other events which gave rise to the need for special traffic ar- rangements were the visit of HRH Princess Alexandra in February and the Jubilee procession and the Pageant.
The never-ending campaign to reduce the road toll continued in earnest. But accidents did happen. When they did police responded quickly with help and advice.
The accent on traffic enforcement was on primary offences, such as dangerous and careless driving and speeding. The introduction of the fixed penalty moving offences 'ticket' system in November, 1976 led to a con- siderable saving of manpower in the administrative handl- ing of certain offences.
The traffic accident rate shows an increase of 10.6 per cent, but this increase is roughly in proportion to the increase in vehicles on the road over the same period. Pedestrians remain the major victims in injury accidents.
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