ENG-1994 — Page 361

PUBLIC ORDER

Force Housing

The Force manages a total of 12 000 quarters, of which 10 800 are for junior police officers. These include 400 new quarters at the Fanling Police Married Quarters. The construction of 429 quarters in Wong Tai Sin is under way and scheduled for completion by 1996. The redevelopment of quarters in Hollywood Road and Canton Road is under planning, and sites have been reserved in Chai Wan and Ngau Chi Wan for the construction of replacement quarters. In 1994, the Force was again allocated 400 units under the Disciplined Services Quota of the Government Public Housing Scheme. Other alternative sources of accom- modation which remain open to eligible junior police officers include the Home Purchase Scheme, Housing Loan Scheme and Home Ownership Scheme.

The programme to refurbish 4500 married quarters for junior police officers was progressing well. Since the introduction of the scheme in 1987, 1 700 quarters have been refurbished, resulting in a marked improvement in the structural condition and standard of these old residences.

The policy to provide housing for all eligible married police officers, including those in the inspectorate and superintendent cadres, continued to be progressively implemented. At the same time, every effort was made to acquire more quarters of higher grading, rather than opting for sheer numbers.

Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force

Manned entirely by part-time volunteers from all walks of life, the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force has a proud history dating back to 1914.

The traditional role of the Force was to provide the regular police with additional manpower during emergencies. Following their involvement in the Fight Violent Crime Campaign in 1973, the auxiliary police have provided increasing support and are presently fully integrated with their regular counterparts in a wide variety of daily constabulary duties in the field of crime prevention, neighbourhood policing, traffic control, special duties and community relations. The auxiliary police also provide support in communications duties in police command and control centres.

Following the split of the New Territories Region into two regions, North and South, in 1993, a review of the structure and establishment of the auxiliary police was undertaken. With effect from April 1, 1994, the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force was restructured into Headquarters Auxiliary and five major regional formations. The strength of the Force at the end of the year was 5 470. Approximately 10.7 per cent of the Force was composed of women officers.

The average daily turnout of auxiliary police for normal constabulary duty in 1994 was 750 officers.

Independent Police Complaints Council

The main function of the Independent Police Complaints Council is to monitor and review investigations, by the Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO) of the Royal Hong Kong Police, of complaints made against the police by members of the public. Until December 30, the council was known as the Police Complaints Committee.

Set up in 1986 to replace the former UMELCO Police Group, the council is an independent body appointed by the Governor. The chairman is normally drawn from the

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