ENG-1968 — Page 219

PUBLIC ORDER

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As part of the programme to improve relations between police and public, hundreds of school children were invited to police stations throughout the year. In addition, as a new venture, the force ran a series of six camps for secondary school boys during the summer holidays at which outdoor activities on Outward Bound lines were arranged. It is hoped to continue this programme in future years and to increase the number of participating students.

Recruitment, with a target of 100 officers and 900 constables, was carried on during the year under the control of the Commandant of the Police Training School. Response to the various recruitment drives was good.

As in the past the auxiliaries assisted and augmented the regular police. A new auxiliary division was formed at Yuen Long, com- plementing the only other auxiliary formation in the New Territories at Tsuen Wan. Recruiting for the Auxiliary Police was also in- troduced in the outlying islands for the first time. Membership of the Auxiliary Police increased at an encouraging rate, and this can be taken as an indication of the high regard in which the police force is held by the community.

As a result of the expansion of the force, provision has been made or is being sought for a number of new building projects in the Public Works programme. A new police station, due for com- pletion early in 1969, will provide improved facilities in the Aberdeen area of Hong Kong Island. Construction of further stations is planned over the next six years at other areas where there have been increases in population, i.e., Ngau Tau Kok, Cheung Sha Wan, Shing Wo Road, Tsz Wan Shan, North Point, and in the New Territories. A new depot is also planned for the Police Tactical Unit; and construction of a new office block for police headquarters was about to begin towards the end of the year.

CRIME

During the first two months of the year crime statistics continued to rise in the wake of the political disturbances which had abated towards the end of 1967. The police, who had reverted to their normal duties, soon came to grips with the criminals, and the number of offences dropped steadily. By April offences known to the police were back to the level which existed prior to the