10
Public Order
THERE were no serious threats to the peace and stability of the Colony during the year. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force was therefore able to concentrate largely on normal constabulary duties. At the same time, a review of policing requirements and the application of new methods and equipment were given much atten- tion with the object of ensuring that the force maintains a high standard of efficiency.
Several changes were made in police boundaries on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon so as to improve efficiency and suit the convenience of the public.
In the New Territories, a new police division covering the developing Sha Tin and Tai Po areas was formed in August to give improved operational efficiency. These areas were previously served by sub-divisional stations under the command of Yuen Long Division.
Although the overall crime rate in Hong Kong continued to remain low by comparison with many other major cities in the world, there was an increase in violent crime, especially homicide cases, robberies and serious assaults during the year, a trend which caused some public expressions of concern. The force strengthened its preventive crime patrols to discourage further development of violent tendencies, and succeeded in seizing a considerable number of offensive weapons. These steps met with widespread public support.
The emphasis on improvement of police public relations was maintained, and organised visits to police formations became almost a daily occurrence. The previous system of single 'open days' was extended in the urban areas to 'open week-ends', so that more people would have an opportunity to visit selected police stations, and gain an insight into the day-to-day duties of the force. For
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