ENG-2003 — Page 391

PUBLIC ORDER

Boat Excursion Scheme was also revamped, and proved to be a popular healthy activity for officers and their families.

The Psychological Services Group provides professional counselling services for officers. The group also launched a series of promotional and training activities under the 'CARELINKS 2003 — Mental Health in the Workplace Campaign', with the aim of enhancing mental health and mutual support among force members.

Force Housing

Some 13 000 officers of various ranks are currently residing at departmental quarters maintained by the Police Force. In addition to quarters, serving officers can also choose to join various civil service housing benefit schemes, subject to their meeting the criteria of the particular scheme. Officers who are soon to retire may apply for their future accommodation through the Civil Service Public Housing Quota.

During the year, nearly 3 000 officers moved into new purpose-built Disciplined Services Quarters which provide an improved standard of living. The number accounts for over 23 per cent of the total police quarter occupation.

Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force

The establishment of the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force (HKAPF) stands at 4 500. In an internal security situation, the HKAPF discharges duties to guard strategic and sensitive installations and to man command centres, and it also acts as a reserve to give assistance during natural disasters and civil emergencies. On a day-to- day basis, the HKAPF officers supports their regular counterparts at large-scale events requiring crowd management and in certain planned operations.

Independent Police Complaints Council

The Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) is responsible for monitoring and reviewing the investigations of public complaints against the Police Force, which are carried out by the Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO). The IPCC is an independent body comprising members who are appointed by the Chief Executive. It has a chairman, three vice-chairmen and 14 other members. The Ombudsman or her representative serves as an ex officio member.

During the year, the IPCC endorsed the investigation results of 3 569 complaint cases, involving 6 262 allegations. The number of IPCC Lay Observers rose to 65 with the appointment of another nine Observers. The Lay Observers could attend CAPO interviews and site visits on a scheduled or surprise basis to ensure that investigations were conducted in a thorough and impartial manner. The IPCC also organised a number of publicity programmes, which included talks at secondary schools and broadcasting of the IPCC corporate video on public transport, with a view to promoting public awareness of the operation of the police complaints system and the role the IPCC plays in it.

Customs and Excise

The Customs and Excise Department is primarily responsible for the collection of revenue on dutiable goods and the prevention of its evasion, the suppression of narcotics trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, the prevention and detection of smuggling, and the protection of intellectual property rights. It has an establishment of 4 989.

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