ENG-1966 — Page 213

154

PUBLIC ORDER

relations with the press and, at the close of the year, other measures were being considered which would assist the public to a fuller understanding of police aims and methods.

The largest section of the Hong Kong Police is the Uniformed Branch, which is divided into four main districts-Kowloon, which is commanded by a Senior Assistant Commissioner, and Hong Kong Island, the New Territories and Marine, each of which is commanded by an Assistant Commissioner. In April the Kowloon district was reorganized into two sub-districts, Kowloon East and Kowloon West, each under the immediate command of a Chief Superintendent responsible to the Senior Assistant Commissioner, who is thereby enabled to give more attention to policy matters. and to the deployment of specialist branches such as the Criminal Investigation Department and Traffic.

The prevention of illegal immigration remained primarily the task of the Marine Police. The number of arrests and seizures of vessels remained encouragingly high, while the number of illegal immigrants who succeeded in entering the Colony was again kept at a relatively low level.

=

Providing support and reinforcement to the regular police both on sea and land in times of emergency, the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force_comprises a total establishment of 2,437 volunteers, commanded by the Commissioner of Police assisted by the Com- mandant, who is an Auxiliary Assistant Commissioner. When mobilized, the auxiliaries are completely integrated with the regular force and each of the 10 auxiliary land divisions operates as part of its parent division, while the marine auxiliaries assist in manning the craft of the Marine Police. Other duties of the auxiliaries include helicopter observation, escorting fire appliances, ambulances and supply vehicles in time of emergency.

The police force operates a large fleet of vehicles of all types from heavy lorries to motor scooters, and the responsibility for the maintenance of this fleet, which numbers more than 570 vehicles, rests with the Communications and Transport Branch. This branch is also responsible for the maintenance of over 500 radio and radar installations throughout the force, and of the force's telephone, teleprinter and radio communications systems.