ENG-1982 — Page 188

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were implemented during the year. The final phase, covering the remaining areas of the New Territories, will be introduced in early 1983.

In the Marine Region, the command and administration structure was strengthened to cope with a massive 10-year development plan which will see the creation of more than 1 200 posts, the commissioning of 58 new or replacement launches and the building of a new Marine Police Regional Headquarters and four divisional bases. Sectors were redesignated as divisions and a new support group was created in Marine Headquarters to provide the region with its own staff of experts in the field of fleet management including ship husbandry, launch engineering and radar technology.

Parallel with the reorganisation programme, studies were carried out into other aspects of the force's structure to ensure that they are geared to respond to the changing policing needs of the community. A review of the deployment of Uniform Branch officers was completed and pilot schemes introduced to test some of the recommended changes. The organisation of the Criminal Investigation Department was closely examined and recommendations of the study group began to be implemented. In addition, the size and command span of the regions was examined, taking into consideration such factors as the projected growth of population, shifts of centres of population, crime rates and the increasing demands and responsibilities placed on the force.

The five-year building programme to construct more than 40 new police buildings, approved in 1981, was revised and updated during the year. New police stations were under construction in Tsim Sha Tsui, Sau Mau Ping and at Hong Kong International Airport. Another 21 new neighbourhood police units and report centres were opened to keep abreast of community policing needs. Planning for the new Police Headquarters complex on the Wan Chai waterfront also entered its final stages and construction is expected to start in mid-1983 for staged completion commencing in 1987.

In line with force policy to provide adequate housing for all officers, additional sites for quarters for married junior officers were identified and tenders let for the construction of 150 new units. To meet immediate needs, some 1 200 quarters were purchased from the private sector during the year to house married junior officers.

The Force Inspection Wing, created at the beginning of the year, started an inspection cycle of all branches and formations to ensure that force policies and priorities are being implemented, that functions are being performed efficiently, and that formations are adequately staffed, equipped and supported.

On the management side, the year saw the creation of a Police Force Council, which brings together representatives of the four police staff associations representing officers of the rank of chief superintendent to constable, the government, and the Commissioner of Police for consultation on pay and conditions of service. Internal force matters within the authority of the commissioner continued to be dealt with by two consultative committees representing the interests of junior and senior police officers. The civilian staff consultative machinery within the force was also formalised to further improve existing working relations.

In the technology field, computerisation of the nominal index of the Criminal Records. Bureau proceeded and the whole system is expected to be operational by mid-1983. Planning work also started on a second generation computerised system for the command and control centres, the extension of the beat radio system to developing areas in the New Territories, and computers for the Personnel Branch, Training Wing, and Police Stores.

While the forward planning was underway, traditional policing problems – traffic, crime, illegal immigration and refugees continued to make heavy demands on resources in