ENG-1990 — Page 306

PUBLIC ORDER

operations and publicity to combat crime. The joint Fight Crime Committee/District Fight Crime Committees Conference held in November gave the 19 district committees and the central committee a further opportunity to exchange views on crime-related matters.

Police Force

In 1990, a great deal of the time and energy of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force was taken up by an upsurge in the use of firearms on the streets, a substantial increase in the influx of illegal immigrants arriving in the territory and smuggling at sea. There was also cause for concern about the degree of violence used by criminal elements and the apparent ease at which firearms were obtained.

During the year there were occasions when robbers and police exchanged gunfire. Tragically, an innocent bystander was killed in an incident on Hong Kong Island and an assistant immigration officer was killed while chasing robbers in another case in Kowloon. In the former case, one man was charged with illegal possession of arms and ammunition; and in an unprecedented move, the Guangdong authorities arrested two other suspects following liaison between Interpol China and detectives from the Hong Kong Regional Crime Unit.

One of the most vicious crimes of the year was the fire bombing of a Kowloon mahjong association which left six people dead and 23 injured. Triad involvement was suspected in this cruel and calculated attack.

Open challenge to law and order was demonstrated by some triad factions during the sale of flats by some property developers in Kowloon and the New Territories. Prompt police action led to the arrest of 156 persons, 131 of whom were charged.

The poor economic situation in southern China, coupled with the prospect of em- ployment in Hong Kong, especially in the construction industry which was suffering an acute labour shortage, brought about an increase in the number of illegal immigrants during the first three quarters of the year. Announcements by the government in September that new legal measures would be introduced with the intention of curbing the employment of illegal immigrants appeared to have stemmed the tide as fewer illegal immigrants were reported since then.

Although land crossing was the more favoured means of entry, there was a significant rise in the number of sea-crossers. The Marine Police have revealed a new method of concealment in which human cargo was often sealed in compartments within the hulls of vessels.

The increased smuggling of electrical products, cigarettes and luxury cars from Hong Kong to the mainland also necessitated counter-measures by the Marine Police, in liaison with the Customs and Excise Department. Certain legislative controls were brought in to help eradicate the problem.

The financial rewards of smuggling are high. The smugglers are well organised and equipped; and ruthless as well. The latter point was only too poignantly illustrated by the deliberate ramming of a police boat by a smuggler's speedboat in June which killed a young police constable.

Although there were fewer Vietnamese boat people (VBP) coming to Hong Kong in 1990, the commitment of police resources remained considerable. Marine Police continued to provide an effective screen at sea, and, together with officers based in the land regions, were called upon to escort VBP movements and to respond to incidents in the various

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