Hong Kong is already one of the busiest ports in the world and is fast becoming a major container terminal port. Concurrent with the rapid progress in movement and handling of cargo lies the attendant increase in crime, which although not extensive at present, is becoming more complex and sophisticated.
Sectors Division
This is the largest of the three divisions and performs much the same duties as a Coast Guard Service in other countries. Launches are responsible for policing all waters outside the port. The division is commanded by a Senior Super- intendent assisted by a Superintendent, and has a strength of 810 all ranks, against an establishment of 749. These men crew the 36 sea patrol launches which patrol the 700 square miles of sea surrounding Hong Kong.
During their patrols, they visit outlying islands and isolated communities, and frequently engage in search and rescue operations. In 1977 there were 1,529 requests for police assistance and 342 casualty evacuations. The primary role of the division, however, is the combatting of illegal immigration and the importation of narcotics. In conducting these operations, close liaison is maintained with the Royal Navy, Army units, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force.
Some 2,508 pleasure craft also frequent territorial waters, mainly at weekends and on public holidays. These craft occasionally get lost, or stray into Chinese waters, and get into difficulties, or make difficulties for others by reckless water skiing, and operating dangerously close to swimmers and so on.
The large mechanised fishing fleet seldom gets into difficulties inside Hong Kong waters, but inevitably there are collisions, drownings and other accidents when Marine police play an important role in assisting the victims.
Islands Division
Islands Division is commanded by a Superintendent with its headquarters at Cheung Sha on South Lantau. It has a strength of 194, against an establishment of 173. Lantau is the largest island in the territory, being 55.55 square miles in area (compared to Hong Kong Island's 28.85). There are three sub-divisions: Tai O on the west (opened in 1902), Mui Wo on the east (opened in 1953) and Cheung Chau (opened in 1907).
In addition there are police posts at Shek Pik, Peng Chau Island to the west and Lamma Island to the south of Hong Kong. The total population of these islands is about 59,500. Tai O and Cheung Chau are fishing ports. The latter is also a busy holiday resort and is the local commercial centre with a population of almost 35,000. Peng Chau is a busy little industrial village of 7,000 people. Tai O has a population of 6,000 and Mui Wo over 6,000. These are the main centres of population and all the islands, apart from Cheung Chau, are still extensively farmed.
Vegetable farming is the main occupation, but there is still plenty of rice paddy, and the old rural life and customs are still evident in the more remote areas. Lantau and Lamma are popular day-tripper resorts while the tourists are attracted to the monastries at Ngong Ping on Lantau, easily reached by bus from Mui Wo.
There are two major prisons on Lantau-at Chi Ma Wan and Ma Po Ping-and a detention centre at Sha Tsui. The inmates are responsible for much of the re- afforestation in the water catchment areas.
West of Cheung Chau is the island of Shek Kwd Chau, which is a drug rehabilitation centre. There are also drug addiction centres at Tong Fuk and on Hei Ling Chau. The division maintains close liaison with all these insti- tutions.
The police task is of a rural nature, but holiday crowds and local festivals require additional police coverage. In order to cope with the increase in the number of people using the recreational facilities, it became necessary to reorganise the village patrol system, and in July 1976 six Rural Area Patrols (RAPs) were formed. The men were selected because of their physical fitness and aptitude for outdoor life.
All RAPs, under the auspices of the Police Adventure Training Unit, have received training in map reading, search and rescue, orienteering and rope work.
In addition to mounting search and rescue operations and advising hikers and campers, Rural Area Patrols perform the following functions:--
•
•
Provide a visible Government presence in remote
areas.
Maintain law and order in remote areas.
Prevent and detect illegal immigrants.
• Organise search operations for escaped prisoners. Development on Lantau has been quite considerable during the year with even larger and more ambitious projects planned for the future. Initial work on the ferry concourse at Mui Wo has started and when this is com- pleted, it will incorporate a new ferry pier, a bus terminus, a hawker bazaar, a car park and a housing estate. Clearance work has started on a housing estate at Cheung Chau, and plans have also been made for a similar project on Peng Chau. The Sea Ranch at Yi Long on the Chi Ma Wan peninsula is now under construction, and next year work should start on a similar, but more ambitious, project at Discovery Bay. To keep pace with development a road widening scheme is currently underway between Mui Wo and Tai O.
The Fleet
The Marine Police fleet is made up of 46 craft of all classes, 21 of which are sea-going patrol launches, eight harbour launches, 11 motor boats (Win type), three jet launches, one CID decoy junk and two logistical special duty launches.
Because of the age and limited performance of some of the other launches, a two-year phased replacement pro- gramme for the nine 70 ft. Sectors patrol craft, and the eight 45 ft. Harbour launches, has recently been approved.
Marine CID
The Criminal Investigation Department, albeit small and comprising Headquarters units and detachments attached to individual stations, is an integral part of the District- its personnel working closely with their uniformed counter- parts. The CID headquarters has an anti-illegal immigra- tion unit which is responsible for the investigation of all syndicated illegal immigration. The District's intelligence unit seeks out information on a variety of criminal opera-
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