ENG-1997 — Page 357

PUBLIC ORDER

1997 to sponsor officers to attend development and vocational training programmes

overseas.

In-service management training is provided through three levels of command courses run by the Higher Training Bureau. Inspectors attend the Junior Command Course after serving four years in the ranks. Chief Inspectors and Superintendents attend the Intermediate and Senior Command Courses, respectively, within one year of promotion to each rank. The Intermediate Command Course was changed in February to include a comprehensive and certificated package of lectures on key management topics delivered by professional lecturers from the City University of Hong Kong. Complementing this, Chief Inspectors are encouraged to attend one- or two-day training modules during the year. These address nine core competencies for their rank. This fresh approach to command training is being assessed and may be extended to other courses.

The Police Driving School is the Force's primary driver training facility and trains some 1 800 officers each year. Of these, approximately a quarter are trained to ride large motorcycles (750 c.c.) and half attend various four-wheel vehicle courses. They include basic courses to qualify officers with civilian driving licences to drive government vehicles and advanced operational driving course for Traffic and Emergency Unit drivers.

The Detective Training School has restructured many of its courses and will run additional courses to provide the knowledge and skills needed for the investigation of serious crime, vice, gambling and dangerous drugs. Officers undergoing the annual revolver continuation training and qualification courses are improving their standards with the aim of maintaining a 75 per cent target hit rate by 1999.

Recruitment

The number of applications for Inspectorate posts remained steady at 2 796 in 1997, compared with 3 268 in 1996, and 90 were appointed as Inspectors. Another 68 serving officers were promoted from within the ranks.

Recruitment at Constable rank remained satisfactory with 792 recruits taken on strength out of a total of 7 930 applicants. Satisfactory recruitment saw the strength of the Force remain healthy and strong at 27 588 disciplined officers and 5 926 civilian staff.

Promotions

Promotion prospects in the Force remained good at most levels. In 1997, 66 officers were promoted to the rank of Senior Superintendent and above, 80 Chief Inspectors and 143 Senior Inspectors were promoted to Superintendents and Chief Inspectors respectively, 13 Station Sergeants were promoted to Inspectors, 52 Sergeants were promoted to Station Sergeants and 328 Police Constables to Sergeants. Within the civilian grades, 63 general grade and 42 departmental grade officers were promoted.

In 1997, some 372 disciplined officers retired from the Force, 13 were invalided, 292 resigned, 45 were transferred to other departments, and 38 were either dismissed. or had their services terminated. Likewise, 272 general grade, and 188 departmental grade civilian staff left the Force through various means such as retirement, transfer

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