ENG-2006 — Page 381

Public Order 1 313

public order events. During the year, 1 303 notifications of public order events were processed.

The Police Licensing Office is also responsible for issuing various types of licence. and permit. In 2006, it processed 3 620 applications for liquor licences. At the end of the year, there were 181 licensed massage establishments, 190 licensed pawnbrokers, 5 046 liquor licensed premises and 275 708 valid security personnel permit holders in Hong Kong.

Marine Region

The Police have embarked on a Versatile Maritime Policing Response strategy, which aims at significantly improving maritime policing at a reduced cost. In 2006, contracts were issued for the procurement of two barge platforms and 17 medium patrol launches which will be delivered in 2007 while continuing to evaluate tenders for a Central Command System and a Divisional Fast Patrol Craft. Full implementation of the strategy is expected to be completed by 2010.

In 2006, Marine Region also stepped up action against smuggling at sea. With full cooperation from the C&ED, Marine Department and Immigration Department, as well as from law enforcement agencies of the Mainland, the crackdown on syndicated smuggling activities was very successful. The amount of contraband seized in 2006 was worth $270 million, a record for the region.

Traffic

In 2006, there were 14 849 traffic accidents involving casualties, representing a decrease of 1.4 per cent compared with 2005 and 135 fatal traffic accidents, representing a fall of 2.9 per cent compared to the previous year. During the year, 450 252 fixed-penalty tickets for moving offences were issued, an increase of 1.1 per cent compared with 2005. Police officers and traffic wardens issued a total of 631 669 tickets for parking offences, which represented an increase of 10.4 per cent compared with 2005. There were 55 286 summonses issued to traffic offenders, a drop of 18.9 per cent compared with 2005.

Public Relations

The Police Public Relations Branch (PPRB) plays a key role in informing the public about the work of the Police in order to project a positive image of the Police Force and to enlist public support for maintaining law and order through a proactive community relations programme.

Police Community Relations officers attached to different districts keep the public well informed of police policies and operational priorities while the Junior Police Call (JPC) Scheme and the Secondary School Liaison Officers Programme serve as bridges between the Police and young people.

PPRB worked with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and Cable TV to produce several television programmes including the highly acclaimed Police Magazine to keep the public abreast of crime trends and to appeal for information to assist crime investigations. It also assisted different film companies and television stations during the year to produce police-related dramas and documentaries.