ENG-1955 — Page 186

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

Aberdeen, before entering upon their duties. The syllabus includes law and police duties, drill and weapon training (including the use of tear smoke), unarmed combat, and first aid. The Marine Police are additionally trained in seamanship, port regulations, and signalling. All Chinese recruits are taught basic English at the School, and this is followed by more advanced lessons during subsequent service. All non- Chinese members of the Force are required to qualify in Cantonese as part of their professional examinations. 271 recruits of all ranks completed their training during the year.

Advanced training courses of 2 or 4 weeks' duration are taken regularly by both the inspectorate and the rank-and-file.

The Communications Branch of the Force controls and operates radio networks, telephones and teleprinters. The main radio network controls the radio-equipped cars, which are on patrol day and night and are available to answer any calls received over the 999 telephone system. There are also two networks in the New Territories, one covering frontier stations, the other the inland stations and patrol cars. Two marine networks cover cruising launches and harbour launches. In addition there are six radio-telephony links which, when in operation, enable contact to be maintained between the two territorial commands and the Central Opera- tions Room at Police Headquarters.

There are two command networks, linking up the commanding officers of the Hong Kong and Kowloon commands to the divisional stations in their respective commands. Additionally, every divisional station is linked up with all its divisional sub-stations by means of a separate radio-telephony network. These divisional networks enable all the stations in the same division to be in constant radio contact with each other.

Four of the police cruising launches are, as has been said, equipped with radar, which in addition to its function as a navigational aid, is extensively used for the interception of craft operated by various types of law-breakers during hours of darkness.

All police stations and offices are linked by telephone through three main exchanges in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. A teleprinter system is worked from a central transmitter at Police Headquarters, with 20 receiver- stations in the main police stations.