ENG-2005 — Page 381

Public Order | 327

bureau organised an observer scheme for visiting law enforcement agencies to share knowledge and experience on policing such large international events.

In 2005, the bureau joined forces with the Mainland and Macao to combat cross-boundary crimes and further cemented ties through the 10th and 11th bi-annual HK-Guangdong-Macao Tripartite CID Heads Meetings held in March and September. In December, a bilateral meeting was held in Hong Kong with the Ministry of Public Security to further enhance cooperation

The bureau also represented the Hong Kong Police Force in International Criminal Police Organisation (ICPO), or Interpol. Hong Kong is a sub-bureau of the China National Central Bureau, and the Police Force seconded an officer to the Interpol General Secretariat in Lyon, France. Another officer was seconded to the Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand during the year to promote better police cooperation in Asia.

Nine people were extradited to Hong Kong from overseas and eight were extradited from Hong Kong to other countries in 2005.

Public Order

Hong Kong has always played host on a grand scale, whether it is for big public entertainments and exhibitions or large-scale public demonstrations and it is the Police Tactical Unit which ensures that all goes smoothly and safely. The year 2005 saw the efficient policing of over 2 000 public demonstrations and many other major activities including the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Conference in December. About 6 000 delegates, 3 000 reporters, 2 000 NGO representatives and thousands of demonstrators arrived in Hong Kong for the six-day conference. The Police helped the conference run smoothly amid demonstrations and quickly restored order following a major disorder on the street and the Force's efficiency has earned applause from both local and overseas communities.

During the year, the unit's headquarters trained four unit companies (a total of 680 officers) and continued to provide advanced training to regional and district personnel to cope with anti-crime, illegal immigration and internal security commitments.

To enhance the preparedness of the Police and concerned departments in internal security, public order and anti-terrorism issues, several territory-wide exercises were conducted. These were also held in tandem with the preparation and planning for the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Conference.

The Special Duties Unit, based at the Police Tactical Unit headquarters, will provide a tactical response in the event of a terrorist incident. It continued to prepare to counter terrorism, through exercises and regular exchanges with overseas partners.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau performs a significant function in assuring the Force's counter-terrorism capability. The ongoing counter-terrorism exchange programme aligns the Force's tactical capability with similar units in the