ENG-1997 — Page 351

PUBLIC ORDER

issued for moving offences increased by 1.7 per cent compared with 1996. Police and traffic wardens issued 1.56 million tickets for parking offences during the year, representing a decrease of 8.2 per cent.

Police Licensing Office

The Commissioner of Police, through the Police Licensing Office, is the Licensing Authority for various licences and permits. As the Societies Officer, he is also responsible for the registration/exemption from registration of the establishment of local societies.

On July 1, the Societies (Amendment) Ordinance 1997 came into operation and the notification system was replaced by the requirement of registration/exemption from registration. During the year, 1 306 societies applied or were deemed to have applied for registration. No societies applied for exemption from registration and none was dissolved. A total of 8 695 societies have been or are deemed to have been registered.

In 1997, 88 182 applications for a Security Personnel Permit were received. A replacement exercise has been conducted since May 12, whereby Watchman's Permit holders are notified in phases to apply for a Security Personnel Permit. In all, 5 438 applications were received.

Marine Police

Marine Region had a particularly busy year, especially with activities in the harbour where hundreds of craft of various sizes watched fireworks and other displays relating to the opening of the Lantau Link and the Handover Ceremony.

The Marine Police took delivery of three eight-metre and four nine-metre replacement inshore patrol craft and eight replacement fast-pursuit craft for the Small Boat Unit. Five high-speed pursuit craft specially designed and built to replace the Anti-smuggling Task Force tai feis (speed boats) are expected to begin service in 1998. Communications, surveillance and safety equipment were continually enhanced with a view to maintaining an advantage over the increasingly sophisticated syndicates involved in the smuggling of contraband and illegal immigrants.

Due to rigorous enforcement action, the establishment of more formal avenues for liaison and the exchange of information between Marine Police and their counterparts in the adjacent provinces in the Mainland and abroad, smuggling activities involving tai feis and chung feis have continued to drop.

Some 1010 IIs were apprehended while trying to enter Hong Kong by sea, compared with 1 554 IIs arrested in 1996. A total of 451 Vietnamese people arrived by sea on 31 vessels in 1997. Of these, 377 elected to have their vessels reprovisioned and continued their journey.

Environmental and safety issues associated with the illegal use of explosives and toxic substances to catch fish continued to be accorded high priority with some 164 kilograms of explosives being seized during the year. Marine Police continued to assist other departments in their efforts to enhance shark prevention measures, to protect Marine Parks, to curb pollution and to provide search and rescue services within and outside Hong Kong waters.

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