ENG-1983 — Page 228

PUBLIC ORDER

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centenary. For this event an even more extensive police coverage was required. Despite the crowd control and traffic management involved, these events passed off without incident.

Traffic

After the introduction in May 1982 of fiscal measures to restrain the growth in ownership of private cars and motorcycles, the number of registered vehicles had decreased to 327 803 at the end of 1983, a reduction of 3.5 per cent compared with the end of 1982.

Partly as a result of this and partly due to increased use of off-road public transport systems, in particular the Mass Transit Railway and the electrified Kowloon-Canton Railway, the number of traffic accidents decreased by 1 524, although the toll still remained high with 336 persons killed and 21 638 injured. The police prosecuted 1990 871 for offences under the Road Traffic Ordinance during the year.

The Road Safety Division of the police force, under the aegis of the newly formed Road Safety Council, continued to give emphasis to education and publicity, working closely with schools and school crossing patrols in a co-ordinated programme of lectures and demonstrations.

Assistance to the Public

The number of requests from the public for assistance from the police continued to in- crease during 1983, with 640 927 requests received, representing an increase of 19 062 over the 1982 figure of 621 865. Of these requests, 558 728 or 87.17 per cent were for help in matters not related to crime, mainly for such general assistance as settling domestic disputes, accidents, tenancy matters, nuisance complaints, and requests for information and advice.

The Marine Police continued to play its traditional role in providing assistance to residents of small islands by means of shore patrols. The number of people living in the area covered by the Islands Division continued to increase as more high and middle-grade residential developments, light industrial buildings and recreational facilities were com- pleted. In addition, the large number of people flocking to the islands at weekends and holidays required the Marine Police to keep a constant presence to assist people and craft in difficulties. Casualty evacuations from the islands and other remote areas increased.

Community and Media Relations

Following the successful campaigns in 1981 and 1982 to reduce crime among juveniles (young persons under the age of 16), the force continued its efforts to involve the community in combatting crime. The 1983 Fight Youth Crime Campaign, launched in July, was targetted at males aged between 14 and 20, a group with a relatively high record of crime, particularly serious and violent crime.

The campaign was led by Junior Police Call (JPC), the largest youth organisation in Hong Kong, which was established in 1974 to foster better relations between youth and the police and to provide a means for young people to actively participate in the fight against crime. The campaign featured a four-day Fight Youth Crime Seminar Camp for 300 JPC members and representatives from eight other youth organisations, and a JPC recruitment drive which attracted 32 400 new members and 3 175 JPC leaders, bringing the total membership to 353 900.

Other features of the campaign included the formation of 233 JPC clubs in secondary schools and 90 in primary schools; the organisation of 10 180 activities for JPC members; the introduction of the first Police Mobile Exhibition Centre which, between June and