ENG-1970 — Page 184

PUBLIC ORDER

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The Police Tactical Unit provides advanced training in internal security duties for gazetted officers, inspectors and the rank and file. In addition it supplies an immediate reserve of manpower for reinforcing general police duties. Personnel attached to the unit receive training in the use of modern weapons, personnel carriers and helicopters. Instruction is also given in fieldcraft, driving, first-aid and life-saving as well as various aspects of outward bound training.

Beat and patrol duties by women police in both urban and rural areas resulted in a greater variety of casework being handled and friendly contact with members of the community being made. The scope of women police is no longer confined to matters affecting women and children, although their special aptitudes in this sphere are fully utilised. They are for the most part uniformed personnel engaged on operational duties, although opportunities also exist for periods of two to three years to be spent in all specialist branches of the force.

Members of the auxiliary police force come from all sections of the cosmopolitan society of Hong Kong. They devote eight hours a month and 14 days a year to the performance of police duty and training. Auxiliary police are deployed whenever necessary in support of the regular force on crime prevention and other duties. The auxiliary force continues to play an important role in the maintenance of law and order.

PRISONS

The Commissioner of Prisons, with his Headquarters in Victoria, is responsible for the overall administration of 12 establishments in various parts of the Colony. For male offenders there is a reception, classification and assignment centre at Victoria; a security prison at Stanley; two open prisons at Chi Ma Wan and Tong Fuk; a treatment centre at Tai Lam for those known to be drug-dependent on conviction; four training centres for young male offenders at Cape Collinson, Stanley, Lai Chi Kok and Shek Pik; and a 'Half-Way' house for environmental rehabilitation. For female offenders there is a multi-purpose centre at Tai Lam which serves as a prison, a training centre, and a drug addiction treatment centre with ample recreation and hospital facilities. There is also a staff training school at Stanley.