ENG-1980 — Page 182

PUBLIC ORDER

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after passing out from the Police Training School and involves class attendance for two consecutive days each month. This scheme supplements the constables' practical knowledge and also prepares them for promotion examinations, which they may take after three years' service.

The Detective Training Wing of the Police Training School moved into new premises at Kai Tak and continued holding 12-week, main training courses throughout the year. Each year, four courses are held with 20 inspectorate officers, 20 detective sergeants and 100 detective constables attending each course. Police officers from overseas forces and officers from the Immigration Department and Customs and Excise Service also regularly attend. The added facilities of the new school enabled the commencement, in June, of preliminary courses for Uniform Branch inspectorate officers with CID potential. These courses are of four weeks' duration and are designed to equip officers to enter the CID at divisional level.

The Marine Police Training School, which runs courses in navigation, seamanship, engineering and wireless telegraphy to prepare police officers for duty at sea, moved into more spacious premises at the old Aberdeen Police Station and enabled more personnel to attend its regular courses. During 1980, 597 men and women officers underwent training at the school. In addition, 69 engineering officers attended courses in Singapore on the operation of the new Damen launches.

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During the year, 1,614 police officers, ranging from the rank of constable to super- intendent, underwent training in all aspects of crowd control and internal security at the Police Tactical Unit at Fanling. The training consisted of a three-week cadre course followed by a 10-week course for the full four-platoon company. After training, the companies per- formed operational duties in various police districts.

Some 216 junior police officers attended full-time English language courses of six months' duration, and 14 local inspectorate officers attended an English language training course in the United Kingdom followed by working attachments to police forces there. In addition, 17 police officers were undertaking the diploma course in Japanese organised by the Hong Kong Polytechnic.

Following recent surveys by the British Council, functional English courses were started for Uniformed Branch and CID junior police officers at the Police Education and Language Section in Canton Road, and the Detective Training Wing at Kai Tak. Twelve officers attended radio telephony courses at the Hong Kong Polytechnic.

Police Cadet School

Since its formation in 1973, the establishment of the Police Cadet School has progres- sively been increased from its original 150 to its present 750. During its seven years of operation, 1,148 cadets have graduated from the school. Of this number, 1,001 joined the police force, 31 entered the Fire Services Department, 51 chose the Customs and Excise Service and 21 joined the Prisons Department.

Organisation and Structure

Apart from the organisational changes in police headquarters mentioned earlier, the New Territories District was strengthened in 1980 to cope with the rapid increase in the popula- tion it serves. By 1985-6, the number of people in the area is expected to reach 2,100,000. At the end of the year, the district had a total establishment of 3,567 police officers, with an actual strength of 3,399.