TNAG-1136-FCO40-1416-Address-by-Sir-Edward-Youde--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-L-1982 — Page 71

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114.

115.

LAW, ORDER AND SECURITY

(a) Police and Crime

I turn now to questions of law, order and security

The Royal Hong Kong Police Force has continued ita programme of reorganisation and is now re-ordering its District structure. In addition, the relative size of Police Regions and the command structures in Force and Regional Headquarters are being studied with view to devolving authority and decision-making to the most appropriate and economic levels.

116.

Recruitment has continued so be satisfactory, The target for recruitment of inspectors is 280. It is expected that this will be met with recruite of a high educational

standard and good leadership potential. There should also be little problem of filling 2,000 Junior Police Officer posts;

any of them at form S level.

117.

Regardless of the Force's expansion and quality, the success of Police efforts in combatting crime remains heavily dependent on the self-help and cooperation of members of the public. I

pleased to note the steadily-improving

relationship between the Police and the public to which the District Boards are making a useful contribution,

.

118.

Turning to the crime situation, the incidence of robbery, in its various forme, ie a useful indication of the

state of crime generally. From an average of 40 reports 4 day in 1974, robberies fell to 20 a day in early 1979 and since then it has fluctuated at between 20 and 30 reports a day. So far this year, the daily average has been 24,

the

It

119. A disturbing feature on the crime scene, however, is

greater use of firearms.

therefore, most

encouraging to learn in July of the successful Police operation

was,

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