Police-1967-1968 — Page 10

para-military formations the Force was deployed wherever there was trouble, and by its restraining actions the situation was contained and in due course an end to acts of lawlessness and a return to normality were achieved. Section, Platoon, Company and District Commanders all played an important part in the various operations which it was necessary to carry out; and the example given by them was an inspira- tion to the rest of the Force.

4. During the year the Force received valuable assistance from the Auxiliary Police. When mobilization was ordered on May 11th 99% of the strength of about 2,400 reported for duty. The Auxiliary Police were mobilized for a total of twenty-six days, during which time they worked alongside their Regular Police colleagues and shared in the hazards which faced them, as a result of which twenty-five sustained injuries, in some cases of a serious nature. When no longer mobilized about five hundred Auxiliaries continued until 31st March, 1968, to render assistance to the Regular Police by performing voluntary duty for eight hours every day.

5. In coping with the problems which confronted it the Force had the support of the Armed Services. Close liaison was established and maintained with the Military. Operations rooms at Colony Police Headquarters and at District Headquarters were jointly manned through- out the year from the beginning of the confrontation period. There was constant co-operation between Army Units and their Police counterparts in carrying out various operations both in the New Territories and in the urban areas. An Emergency Operations Committee later known as the 'Joint Emergency Control Committee', comprising representatives of Police, Administration and the three Services was established from the outset of the disturbances. Following a serious incident in Sha Tau Kok (a village partly in Chinese and partly in British territory) in July the Army took over responsibility for the security of the Border. This responsibility was modified to some extent in March 1968 when, as a result of the improved situation, the respec- tive roles of Police and Military in the Border area were re-defined.

During the bomb campaign which lasted from the end of June until Christmas members of the Armed Services shouldered a major part of the burden of ridding the streets and country-side of a great number of bombs both genuine and hoax.

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