ENG-1972 — Page 158

PUBLIC ORDER

115

In July, the first of two new 78-foot high-speed launches joined the Marine Police fleet; by January 1973, seven of these vessels will be in service. They are built by Vosper-Thornycroft of Singapore and incorporate the latest developments in design and construction. They are capable of speeds of over 17 knots.

Three 40-foot water jet-propelled launches were acquired for shallow water use early in the year. Built locally, they are capable of patrol speeds of up to 20 knots. They are versatile and manoeuverable, particularly in shallow, confined waters. At the end of the year, the Marine Police fleet consisted of 43 vessels.

The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force

The strength of the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force at the close of the year was 3,761, an increase of 501 compared with the figure at the close of 1971. Establishment was increased from 4,326 to over 5,000 in October.

In November, following an announcement of increased pay rates and improved annual bounties, the force conducted an intensive three-week recruiting campaign, the theme of which was 'neighbourhood policing'. The intention is that, in future, the majority of auxiliary police men and women will serve in the division where they live. The campaign resulted in 14,892 enquiries being received; these were being processed as the year ended.

The auxiliary police role is to support the regular force. Its members undergo eight hours training each month, and 14 full days a year, seven of which are spent at training camp. Since the beginning of the year, the auxiliary police have been perform- ing anti-crime duties on a regular basis and an encouraging number of arrests have been made.

Prisons

The Commissioner of Prisons is responsible for the overall administration of 11 penal institutions. These include maximum security prisons, an open prison, a psy- chiatric centre, training and detention centres for young offenders and drug addiction treatment centres. In addition, there is a 'staff training institute, a 'half-way house' and an extensive aftercare system.

Prisons

All convicted male prisoners are received at Victoria Reception Centre where they undergo a thorough medical examination and appear before a classification board which decides to which institution they should be sent.

Stanley Prison, Hong Kong's largest maximum security establishment, was com- pleted in 1936 with accommodation for 1,600 prisoners. Since its early days it has accommodated prisoners in excess of this number and during 1972 the prison had an average daily muster of 2,602. It presently caters for prisoners serving long sentences and all recidivists; and has a comprehensive industrial centre where qualified technical instructors teach tailoring, carpentry, metalwork, shoemaking, basketwork, silk- screening, fibreglass moulding and laundry work. An outside annexe accommodates