ENG-1980 — Page 175

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Public Order

THROUGHOUT 1980 illegal immigration from China continued to be a major cause of con- cern and made heavy demands on the manpower and resources of Hong Kong's law enforcement agencies. Heavy pressures were felt as members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, supported by Her Majesty's Forces, were diverted from their normal duties to spend long hours engaged in anti-illegal immigration patrols on land and at sea, in manning road blocks to intercept 'IIs' en route to the urban areas, in apprehending and escorting them, and also in investigating areas of criminal activity associated with the enormous number of new arrivals.

Following the introduction of regulations in September making it compulsory to carry identity cards in the New Territories (later extended to the whole territory as part of the new measures to stem the influx in late October), police had the added task of checking the identity of members of the public, aged 15 years and over.

In addition to these activities, which were in the forefront of public attention during the year, major contributions towards the general welfare and safety of the community were also made by the Fire Services Department, the Prisons Department, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Customs and Excise Service.

Police Force

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The Royal Hong Kong Police Force has the chief responsibility for maintaining law and order throughout the territory. In this it is aided by the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force which provided valuable strength during the year when an average of 1,000 officers of the regular force were deployed every day on anti-illegal immigration duties.

The incidence of 'quick cash' crime, which reached a peak in September, 1979, declined during 1980 as a result of concerted police efforts and a greater public awareness of the need for more determined efforts to prevent crime - a message emphasised strongly through- out the year by the Fight Crime Campaign. Particularly highlighted was the long-term need to design new buildings with built-in security measures. In line with the campaign, which was in its seventh year, the Police Crime Prevention Bureau was expanded to include specially-trained Divisional Crime Prevention Officers to give advice on security matters. and to visit the scenes of crimes to advise victims on ways to make their premises safer in future.

Heavy traffic congestion and associated parking and control problems continued to beset the Traffic Police. Contributing in no small measure to the situation was the continuing increase in the number of registered vehicles. By the end of 1980 the figure had risen from 260,928 to 299,395 – a rise of 14.7 per cent - giving a vehicle density of 258 vehicles for each of the 1,161 kilometres of road.