ENG-1985 — Page 253

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PUBLIC ORDER

for 900 members and leaders, a goodwill visit to Singapore, and a mini-Olympic Games. Plans were developed to set up more clubhouses to provide recreational and educational facilities for members. One new clubhouse was opened in 1985, bringing to 16 the total number of clubhouses in operation.

The Good Citizen Award Scheme, jointly sponsored by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the police, received an additional boost from the introduction of a new good citizen of the year award, for those who have displayed exceptional bravery, great resourcefulness or outstanding initiative. In March, the Governor presented awards totalling $60,000 to 11 people, including four young members of one family who arrested a burglar who had broken into their home and threatened them.

Cash awards totalling $191,000 were presented to a further 118 civic-minded people for brave acts in arresting, or helping to arrest, criminals and bringing them to justice. A total of 1 675 good citizens have received $2,050,400 since the scheme began in 1973.

By the end of the year, the number of criminals arrested as a direct result of calls made to the police hotline rose to 4 091. This hotline was given valuable publicity on the weekly Police 15 and Police Report television programmes. Meanwhile, the fifth series of the popular police TV drama-documentary programme On the Beat was produced by Radio Television Hong Kong and the police and was shown on both Chinese channels. It attracted more than two million viewers.

Another new crime-related television programme, Crime Watch, was introduced on one channel with the aim of inducing viewers to phone in information, in particularly difficult, unsolved cases. The programme used video reconstructions and a special studio set-up, manned by CID personnel, to stimulate immediate viewer interest and response.

Officers in the PPRB newsroom, who provide a 24-hour information and enquiry service to the press and the public, handled a monthly average of 13 800 enquiries and issued a monthly average of 170 traffic bulletins and 130 press releases on all aspects of police work. Press conferences, background briefings and interviews were also organised by the branch.

Recruitment and Personnel

At the end of 1985, there were 25 182 disciplined officers in the police force - an increase of 546 over 1984. Civilian staff, at 5 387, represented 17.4 per cent of the overall establishment. There was a slight increase in applications to join the police - the total number standing at 15 559 compared with 13 861 in 1984. The number of constables appointed during the year was 959, 6.25 per cent of whom were women. Of the total 149 police inspectors appointed, 50 were recruited locally, 59 were employed from overseas and 40 were promoted from the junior ranks through the 'potential officer' selection scheme.

The year also saw 29 gazetted officers promoted to the rank of senior superintendent and above, 21 chief inspectors to superintendent; 53 senior inspectors to chief inspector, 103 sergeants to station sergeant and 15 constables to sergeant. In addition, 10 exceptionally experienced station sergeants were also promoted to the rank of inspector.

Training

Facilities at the Police Training School were further expanded and improved to meet increasing demands. Recruit inspectors continued to undergo a 36-week course and recruit constables began their career with a 22-week course. The courses covered criminal law, social studies, police and court procedures, drill and musketry, first aid and, for overseas inspectors, an eight-week course in colloquial Cantonese. Recruit traffic wardens under- went a six-week course covering traffic legislation and procedures.