208. Enginerooms of police launches are manned by civilian grades of Launch Engineer and Stoker. At the end of the year their establish- ment, including supernumerary posts provided for the anti-illegal im- migration operations was 205. At the same time arrangements were well in hand to convert the majority of these posts to disciplined status bearing appropriate police ranks. Problems of morale, pay differences and discipline caused by crew-members being of different status and service will be avoided by this conversion.
EMERGENCY UNITS
209. Each police district has an Emergency Unit manned by Uniformed Branch personnel. Each unit consisting of 3 platoons operat- ing on a 24-hour basis, mans patrol cars which are in radio contact with their District Controls and can be directed to any incident reported by the police or public. These patrols also deal with incidents as they are encountered and are available to assist beat duty officers. In addition to providing prisoner and cash escorts, the units are also a reserve which can be called upon at all times to deal with unexpected disasters or disorders.
WOMEN POLICE
210. This unit is commanded by an overseas Women Assistant Superintendent with a Woman Senior Inspector on attachment from a United Kingdom police force as her second-in-command. The establish- ment is 347 all ranks, part of which is attached to the Traffic Branch, providing two units for the control of metered parking spaces, traffic control during peak periods and traffic education.
211. The Women Police play a particularly important part in cases involving women and juveniles. They work in close liaison with the Social Welfare Department. They are also available for special duties in the Branches of the Force including the Narcotics Bureau and the new Juvenile Liaison Section of the C.I.D. During the year policewomen have regularly assisted in maintaining order at water-queues, in escorting prisoners and illegal immigrants and in crowd-control at major public functions. They continue to attend at scenes of natural disasters, serious accidents and squatter clearances.
212. Accommodation at stations for policewomen has been improved and the new station at Wong Tai Sin opened in January provided quarters of very good standard for 30 women. At the Police Training School women recruits continue to train alongside the men. In August, 1963
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