ENG-1974 — Page 166

PUBLIC ORDER

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Cadets undergo a balanced syllabus of academic, physical and vocational train- ing. The academic studies comprise English, Cantonese, mathematics and social studies. In vocational training, cadets are introduced to the four disciplined services.

The school offers free education, including books and stationery, free accom- modation and food, free uniform, free medical care and other fringe benefits. Cadets receive $60 each month as pocket money. Recruiting is within the 15-17 age bracket and there are also height, weight, education and residential qualifications for appli-

cants.

In 1974 the school was fully subscribed with 300 cadets, including 30 students undertaking a special one-year course. However, eventual planned strength for the school is 1,200 when it moves to its permanent accommodation at Shuen Wan, near Plover Cove. The school will then be graduating 600 cadets a year, about half of the annual recruitment needs of the force.

Recruitment

Recruitment reached a new zenith with 168 inspectors, including 134 from overseas, being taken on strength during the year, compared with 111 in 1973 and 71 in 1972. Constable strength was increased by 2,222 compared with 1,320 in 1973. Of this number 412 were women. The number of inspectors and constables passing out from the Police Training School during the year was 94 and 1,428 as compared to 81 and 753 respectively in 1973.

The extended interview scheme introduced in 1970 to test the suitability of local applicants for the post of inspector was also used to test rank and file recommended for promotion to the inspectorate grade. Lasting three days, this is designed to test candidates' power of English comprehension and expression, maturity, initiative, common sense and leadership qualities. A total of 92 local applicants and 20 rank and file attended the interviews. Of these 18 and five respectively were taken on strength as recruit inspectors.

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The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force

The establishment of the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force is 7,000 all ranks and the strength of the force at the close of the year was 6,875—an increase of 115 per cent compared with 1973.

During the year the auxiliaries supplied an average of 1,800 officers daily to support the regular police in their beat and anti-crime patrol duties. Auxiliary police officers performing these duties made many good arrests.

Members of the force are required to undergo 14 days and 96 hours training a year. Seven of the training days are spent at an annual camp. Duties in support of regular police are purely voluntary and additional to periods of training. Apart from their normal training requirement auxiliary police officers attended additional weapon training courses and internal security training courses.