Police-1961-1962 — Page 15

24. Triad Societies still continue to be a matter for concern. How- ever, the number of offences recorded decreased from 747 in 1960-61 to 301.

25. The Anti-Corruption Branch received an increase in staff and some additional and improved equipment. This has enabled a reorgani- zation of the Branch, and it is now in a better position to concentrate on the more important cases referred to it by the Anti-Corruption Target Committee, which, established in 1961, allocates investigation priorities to the Branch.

NEW HOUSES AND BUILDINGS

26. During the year the only new Police building completed was the Shek Kip Mei Sub-Divisional Police Station. It came into operation on 17th August 1961. This building is designed to house 3 married and 8 single Junior Officers and has barrack accommodation for 125 Rank and File officers. The station is well designed with an excellent Report Room. The offices are air-conditioned. A large number of other Police buildings have been approved by Government, many of which are now under construction or in an advanced state of planning.

27. Government has approved in principle a programme which will provide eventually 407 married, and 299 single quarters for Junior Officers. The implementation of this programme which is subject to the approval of funds by Finance Committee, will be spread over a number of years.

DISTURBANCES AND DISASTERS

28. During August and September a severe epidemic of cholera occurred. As a result an extensive colony-wide prevention campaign was undertaken including among other measures the mass inoculation of the population. During the outbreak police and medical teams worked closely together. Other Police duties resulting from the epidemic in- cluded the marshalling of large queues awaiting inoculation, the guard- ing of property of persons in isolation, the provision of guards for the Quarantine Centre, the investigation of sales of black-market vaccine, support for the Urban Services Department's imposition of food-hygiene measures, and the direction of junks and sampans to quarantine anchorages.

29. Two typhoons struck the Colony during the year, 'Alice' in May, and 'Olga' in September. Fortunately on both occasions casualties were few and the damage caused was not excessive.

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