TNAG-1732-FCO40-2445-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 167

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The NPO scheme works through the Police

Co-ordinators, who are normally based at Neighbourhood Police

Offices MNPO) and are available for consultation with local

residents at set times. There are 144 NPO: 57 in the New

Territories, 41 in Kowloon, 36 on Hong Kong Island and 10 in

the Outlying Islands. A further 19 are either planned or under

construction. All NPO are included in the beats of their

particular police division and are manned regularly by a

patrolling constable, usually for about 15 minutes in every

hour. The NPO will be closed when the constable is away on

patrol but most have a public telephone for 999 calls. Manning

of NPO may vary. For example, the NPO at the Star Ferry

concourse on Hong Kong Island is open as long as the Star

Ferry is operating.

There is no doubt that the old Neighbourhood Police

hits were popular with local residents and many had

misgivings when the new scheme was introduced. But there are

now more NPO than in 1984 and the Neighbourhood Police le co-ordinators have established very good relations with the

communities which they serve. The Commissioner of Police

considers that the public have accepted the changes and

appreciate that the new scheme allows police resources to be

deployed more equitably and effectively.

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