ENG-1999 — Page 356

PUBLIC ORDER

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During the year, the Force Escort Group and Regional Traffic Units were heavily involved in providing escort duties for Internationally Protected Persons and VIPs visiting Hong Kong.

A number of road safety publicity campaigns were held jointly with other government departments and the private sector with the aim of reducing traffic accidents. Legislation to tighten blood alcohol limit regarding drink driving took effect on October 1.

There were 14 657 traffic accidents involving casualties in 1999, representing an increase of 4.6 per cent compared with 1998. The number of fixed penalty tickets for moving offences fell by 16.5 per cent compared with 1998. Police officers and traffic wardens issued 894 525 tickets for parking offences during the year, representing a decrease of 25.8 per cent.

Police Licensing Office

The Central Licensing and Registration System Phase II, which provides computer support for processing the Money Lender Licence, Liquor Licence, Massage Establishment Licence and Society Registration, began operation in January. To further enhance efficiency, a feasibility study was undertaken between May and August to re-engineer the processing of the Security Personnel Permit and to design a new computer system to cater for additional work, starting from June 2000. A $3.66 million project to develop the computer system began in October.

A four-month consultancy study to review the operation of the Massage Establishments Ordinance and related regulatory activities was completed in July. As a result of the review, 17 recommendations were made to various parties, including law enforcement agencies and licence holders, to improve licensing procedures, and most were accepted.

The Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Bill 1999, which updates and tightens the control and safety requirements for the possession and use of arms and ammunition for recreational and sporting purposes, was introduced into the Legislative Council in January, and was expected to be enacted in the 1999–2000 session.

Marine

Anti-illegal immigration patrols continued to be the Marine Region's priority in 1999, with 729 arrests compared with 834 in 1998. In addition, 220 Vietnamese arriving by sea were intercepted and 95 of them chose to continue their journey.

For the first time, the Marine Region, the Guangdong Border Defence Bureau and the Macau Marine Police held - on October 8 a co-ordinated maritime exercise targeted at cross-boundary crime, smuggling and illegal immigration in the Pearl River Delta.

Owing to industrial diesel in Hong Kong being cheaper than that in the Mainland, the number of Mainland trading vessels (MTVs) attempting to enter the HKSAR without proper clearance and become involved in smuggling fuel remained at a high level. As a means to counter this illegal activity, the region refused entry to 4 598 MTVs in 1999 compared with 1 140 in 1998.