ENG-1968 — Page 218

10

Public Order

THE year was relatively free from incidents and thus presented the Hong Kong Police Force with an opportunity to examine methods of dealing with internal security problems in the light of the experience gained in 1967. Partly as a result of this the Police Tactical Unit was formed, and a scheme of advanced train- ing was introduced, whereby general and internal security training were combined.

There was a sharp increase in illegal immigration during the first three months of the year, during which 1,708 persons were arrested. This was followed by an equally sharp decline over the next four months. During August and September 28 fishing junks with almost 300 people on board were located by marine police in the waters off Cheung Chau Island. These fisherfolk, who hailed from Yeung Kwong in China, about 150 miles west of Hong Kong, had fled to the Colony in the hope of better living conditions.

A gruesome task faced officers of the marine district between June and September when 60 dead bodies, 46 of which were bound with rope or rattan, were recovered in the western and southern parts of Colony' waters. These bodies appeared to have drifted eastwards into the Colony from neighbouring waters.

The programme to improve police-public relations gained impetus with the opening of a Police Public Information Bureau in March. The bureau, which is commanded by a chief superintendent and staffed by police officers assisted by two information officers of the Government Information Services Department, assumed the func- tions formerly undertaken on behalf of the force by GIS. The pur- poses of the bureau are two-fold: to disseminate information about the police force and to foster and maintain good relations between police and public at all levels. A satisfactory start was made; and the services of the bureau are much appreciated by the press and other agencies who make use of its facilities.