ENG-1954 — Page 209

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954

Traffic-The comparative figures for accidents are

as follows:---

1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954

Fatal

132

96

119

129

101

106

72

101

Serious Injury Slight Injury Damage only

226

1,738 1,952 2,786 3,233 3,871 4,923

462

618

603

490 466

2,976 2,328 2,698 3,124 4,619 3,937 4,787 4,892

448

621

3,397

5,119

5,329 6,381 8,446 8,327 6,859 8,057

8,536 9,238

There was an increase of 702 in the number of accidents reported. The number of fatal accidents increased by 29 whilst accidents involving serious injury increased by 173. The main increase was in accidents. involving slight injury and damage only, and can be attributed to the congestion arising from a continued increase in the number of vehicles on the Colony's roads.

Immigration-The control and operation of the Immigration Department is one of the responsibilities of the Police Force. During the year this department issued 18,176 visas, 1,544 British passports, 1,262 renewals, 10,568 Chinese entry permits and 3,202 emergency travel certificates. The total recorded move- ment in and out of the Colony during the year was 1,143,696 whilst the number of callers at the Immigra- tion Office in connexion with immigration matters was 214,695.

In addition to their statutory duties the Police rendered a variety of services to the public such as delivering and collecting mail, and conveying urgent cases of illness to hospitals. The Police Band gave regular public performances and cinema shows were provided in schools and villages. Public appreciation

162