ENG-2007 — Page 359

Public Order | 303

In 2007, telephone deception and miscellaneous thefts were the themes of publicity drives. Leaflets were handed out to tourists from the Mainland at boundary crossing points to help them make their stay in Hong Kong a safe one.

Close ties were maintained with the security industry through the bureau's annual inspection of licensed companies and regular liaison meetings with representative bodies.

Forensic Support

The Identification Bureau plays a significant role in supporting crime. investigations and prosecutions by providing a professional fingerprint and photographic service and by collecting DNA evidence from crime scenes. The high- tech latent fingerprint recovery service provided supporting evidence for the solving and subsequent proving of numerous major crimes. In 2007, the bureau compiled the criminal history of 38 892 individuals, linking 1 340 people to 1 188 criminal cases.

Replacement of the existing Computer Assisted Fingerprint Identification System Project was in progress. The new system, to be implemented in 2008, will provide the Police Force with the latest technology and greater ability to identify unsolved cases which could not otherwise be done through manual search means. This would enhance substantially the fingerprinting service which is becoming an increasingly. indispensable tool in carrying out crime investigation.

The Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau continued to provide quality and efficient forensic firearms examination service to Hong Kong courts. It was involved in the forensic investigation of a number of high profile firearms-related cases and provided expert testimony at court proceedings. The bureau is preparing to acquire a state-of-the-art Ballistics Identification System which would replace the existing system in December 2008. It will greatly enhance the bureau's ballistic screening capability.

Liaison

The Liaison Bureau continued to function as a conduit between the Hong Kong Police Force and other policing agencies, including the Mainland Public Security Bureau, Macao Unitary Police Service, overseas law enforcement organisations and their local consulate officials.

In 2007, the bureau joined forces with the Mainland and Macao to combat cross-boundary crimes, further cementing the ties created at the 13th Hong Kong- Guangdong-Macao Tripartite Criminal Investigation Department Heads Meetings in April. To further enhance cooperation, the 16th bilateral meeting between the Hong Kong Police and the Mainland public security authorities was held in Hong Kong in December.

During the year, the Police continued to send officers on secondment to the Interpol General Secretariat in Lyon, France, and its Regional Liaison Office in Bangkok, Thailand. This arrangement facilitated liaison with the international law enforcement bodies and at the same time broadened the Police's vision and perspective of related global issues.