ENG-1988 — Page 282

PUBLIC ORDER

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Road safety campaigns were held throughout the year and emphasis was placed on improving the road sense of adult pedestrians, including those over 60 years of age, and young and inexperienced cyclists and drivers. The Road Safety Exhibition Centre at the Police Traffic Headquarters in United Centre, Queensway, the improved Road Safety Town at Sau Mau Ping, and the Road Safety Mobile Centre were regularly attended by schools and other organisations.

On December 31, provisional figures for accidents causing personal injury showed there were 282 fatalities and 16 051 cases of injury.

Community and Media Relations

The Fight Crime Campaign continued to encourage public vigilance against crime, with the 1988 effort targeted at three major areas of concern - the menace of triads, shoptheft and home security.

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On the strength of the first territory-wide anti-triad publicity efforts made in 1987, the 1988 campaign was intensified, to increase public awareness of the triad menace. Special attention was paid to encouraging young people to report any attempts to recruit them into triad societies. Appeals were also made to their parents and teachers to report triad activities.

To curb the rising trend in shoptheft, an anti-shoptheft campaign was organised throughout the year. It culminated in a special publicity drive in November and an 'anti-shoptheft day' with thousands of young people participating.

Among the activities organised to reduce juvenile crime, the '1988 Help the Police Fight Youth Crime Competition' was most notable and attracted thousands of young participants. Five winners were chosen as Hong Kong's youth ambassadors on an 18-day visit to Canada in July.

The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, which encourages families to take an active interest in each other's security by forming small groups within their buildings, held its fifth and sixth phases during the year. A total of 29 056 households in 131 buildings throughout the territory took part in the two phases and set up 2 818 watch units.

In view of the growth in juvenile crime, the Commissioner of Police decided in May to reintroduce the School Liaison Officer Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to establish good relations between the police and schools and to promote an understanding of the role of the police and a respect for law and order among school children.

Another means of encouraging public support in the fight against crime is the Good Citizen Award Scheme in which cash awards and certificates are given to people who have courageously assisted the police to foil crime or arrest criminals. During the year, 52 people received the Good Citizen Award totalling $81,500 and one other person was presented with the coveted Good Citizen of the Year Award, which was introduced in 1984 for outstanding efforts, with cash awards amounting to $10,000.

Junior Police Call (JPC) – one of the largest police-youth organisations in the world continued to grow. About 3 000 youngsters applied to join each month. As well as pro- viding healthy recreational pursuits for its young members, the movement is involved in community service with members taking part in a wide variety of community programmes. To commemorate the outstanding performance of JPC members in community service, an award scheme sponsored by a leading bank is held each year to select the best member, leader, council and school club in the movement.

A territory-wide sports festival, the JPC Mini-Olympics, comprising a swimming gala, basketball tournaments, football tournaments and athletic meets was launched during the