Police-1966-1967 — Page 41

142. During the year the work carried out by the staff included 3,867 blood groupings, 2,541 examinations of various types of exhibits, and of 835 of persons who were either victims or suspects in criminal cases.

143. The staff also performed 2,068 post mortems and received 4,114 bodies at the public mortuaries.

BALLISTICS OFFICE

144. This office is responsible for the examination of firearms and explosives used in criminal cases and for the removal and disposal of ammunition and explosives which come into the possession of the Police. There is one officer on the staff.

145. During the year investigations were carried out in 14 shooting and 8 explosion cases. Items seized included 34 firearms, 374 explosive devices, many of which were designed for sabotage purposes.

PART V

TRAFFIC

RE-ORGANIZATION

146. The year under review saw major changes in the role of the Traffic Branch. On 12th December, 1966 pending enactment of the necessary legislation, the Commissioner of Police delegated his statutory responsibility for the licensing of vehicles and drivers and the regulation of public transport services to the Commissioner for Transport, head of the newly formed Transport Office. This office, established for these purposes and for the purpose of general co-ordination of all internal transport matters, forms part of the Colonial Secretariat.

147. The administration of the following ordinances and subsidiary legislation have passed entirely or in part to the Commissioner for Transport or, in the case of Road Traffic (Road Crossing) Regulations and the Road Traffic (Lighting and Guarding of Road Works) Regula- tions, to the Director of Public Works:

Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Ordinances

Public Transport Services (Hong Kong Island) Ordinance

Public Transport Services (Kowloon and New Territories) Ordinance Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) Ordinance

Commonwealth Preference (Motor Vehicles) Ordinance

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