ENG-1978 — Page 168

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PUBLIC ORDER

in, the manufacture of illegal drugs in Hong Kong and also lessens the risk of detection.

The main method of entry of drugs into the territory is Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak, but illegal importation by ship is also carried out.

Criminal Records Bureau

The Criminal Records Bureau is the sole repository in Hong Kong of criminal records and a large proportion of its information has been placed on microfilm. During the year, a feasibility study on computerisation was completed. It recommended that the nominal index of some 700,000 names be computerised to modernise and streamline the support service given to officers in the field, and to create a cornerstone on which a total criminal information service could be based.

Criminal Intelligence Bureau

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The Criminal Intelligence Bureau is responsible for the collection, collation, assess- ment and dissemination of criminal information and intelligence throughout the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. Formed in May, 1977, the bureau has gained valuable experience in its first 18 months of operation. Considerable emphasis has been placed on the recruitment of suitable personnel and on the provision of necessary support equipment.

Ballistics Office

One of the smaller formations in the force, the Ballistics Office comprises two qualified civilian ballistics officers, two trainees and one sergeant. It is a very busy section and carries a high and varied case load.

Weapons examined during the year ranged from very crude home-made revolvers and 'cigarette lighter' guns from Thailand, to modern Russian and American military hand guns from Vietnam. However, the work of the section is not limited to the exami- nation of firearms; it ranges through all aspects of forensic ballistics to the testing and evaluation of various bullet-proof materials.

During 1978, a considerable amount of sophisticated equipment was purchased by the Ballistics Office including a chronograph, which enables the speed and power of a bullet to be measured, and a comprehensive mini-computer which is used for com- plicated ballistic calculations.

Identification Bureau

The Identification Bureau is a highly specialised unit dealing with fingerprint techno- logy and forensic photography. During the year, staff increases were implemented to cope with an increasing demand for its services and to provide a more efficient field service.

The Scenes of Crime Section attended 9,757 crime scenes to search for fingerprint traces and found 16,158 fingerprint impressions. This resulted in the identification of 237 people in connection with 302 cases. The section has field units manned by fingerprint/photographic technicians at Criminal Investigation Department Head- quarters, Kowloon District Headquarters, Kwai Chung Police Station, Yuen Long Police Station and Frontier Divisional Headquarters.