ENG-1991 — Page 302

PUBLIC ORDER

The year saw the first recorded use of a military-style assault rifle in crime. A total of 116 commercially-manufactured firearms and eight home-made and converted firearms was seized.

Interpol

The Hong Kong National Central Bureau of the International Criminal Police Organisation, more commonly known as Interpol, was established in September 1960 as a sub-bureau of the United Kingdom. The local bureau is one of the most active members in the South-east Asian region, dealing with approximately 7 500 enquiries each year.

The bureau acts as a co-ordination centre for dealing with criminal information and associated inquiries between Hong Kong and the rest of the world and disseminates information on behalf of formations within the force to participating countries. An increasing number of extradition cases also come under the Charter of the bureau.

Two officers are seconded to the Interpol General Secretariat in Lyons, France, and close liaison with the secretariat is maintained.

Public Order

The Police Tactical Unit (PTU) companies have again been heavily committed to assisting in anti-crime patrol and operation.

In December 1990, the Field Patrol Detachment (FPD) became operational. This unit employs Police Tactical Unit Companies on anti-illegal immigration duties along the border and will take over these duties entirely from the Army in 1992. In 1991, a total of 2210 officers in various ranks were trained in internal security measures and field patrol detachment tactics. Routine training of PTU officers and District Internal Security units continued throughout the year.

Illegal Immigration

During the year, a total of 24 089 illegal immigrants from China were intercepted. Of these, 7 841 illegal immigrants were arrested at the border.

Political and economic reasons remained the main contributing factors to illegal immigration.

Following the arrests of a large number of illegal immigrant workers on construction sites, the Immigration (Amendment) Bill was enacted late in 1990. This new legislation substantially increases the maximum sentence for employing illegal immigrants to a fine of $250,000 and three years' imprisonment, and provides for the prosecution of site- contractors who fail to prevent illegal immigrants from being present on a construction site. The new law has caused a dramatic drop in the total number of illegal immigrants arrested on construction sites.

Vietnamese Illegal Immigrants

There was a marked increase in the number of Vietnamese arrivals in 1991. Most people left Vietnam for economic reasons and in the hope of resettlement overseas.

All Vietnamese illegal immigrants are held in detention centres to await a screening process to establish their refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention. Those classified as economic migrants are kept in detention centres pending repatriation to Vietnam. All Vietnamese illegal immigrants found in Hong Kong territorial waters are advised of this policy and informed that they are free to leave if they wish.

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