THE COURTS, POLICE, PRISONS AND RECORDS
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A number of officers on vacation leave attended courses of instruction in the United Kingdom. During 1958 one overseas Gazetted Officer and two local Inspectors were sent to the United Kingdom to attend courses held at police training centres.
Communications and Transport. This important branch of the Force is controlled from Colony Headquarters. All vehicular transport and all forms of communication, including radiotele- phony, wireless telegraphy, teleprinter, telephones and also radar equipment, are the responsibility of the branch.
During the year a review of police radio communications was completed and its recommendations approved by the Government. Equipment to implement this scheme has been ordered.
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At present the Force has a network of 111 radio stations arranged to link Headquarters with Districts, Districts with Divi- sions, and Divisions with Stations and Posts. There are also direct links with mobile units such as patrol cars, marine craft and foot patrols equipped with pack sets.
During 1958 a total of 13,368 telephone calls necessitating police action were received at the Control Room, Colony Headquarters. Of this number, 9,005 were received through the 999 telephone system, which links the public with the police. Police action taken as a result of these calls resulted in the arrest of 1,043 persons.
The Force received a substantial reinforcement of vehicles in 1958 with the arrival of sixty three Land Rovers and now has a strength of 363 vehicles of all kinds. The total mileage run by all vehicles during the year was 3,534,272 and the fleet had an accident rate of one vehicle to every 19,419 miles covered.
Traffic. The increase in the number of vehicles on the roads continued, aggravating the already serious traffic congestion in the urban areas.
As reported in Chapter 15, Dr. G. Charlesworth, Traffic Con- sultant, visited the Colony in 1958 to advise on measures to improve Hong Kong's urban road traffic system on a long-term basis.
Revision of traffic legislation proceeded with the enactment of new Parking and Waiting Regulations made under the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1957. These Regulations brought local law on
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