320 Public Order
An independent ICAC Complaints Committee, chaired by a former member of the Executive Council and comprising legislators and prominent citizens, monitors the handling of non-criminal complaints lodged against the ICAC and its officers.
Government Laboratory
The Forensic Science Division of the Government Laboratory provides a comprehensive forensic service to the criminal justice system in Hong Kong. It is divided into two operational groups. In 2008, the professional staff of the division attended a total of 481 crime scenes.
The Drugs, Toxicology and Documents Group examines cases involving drugs. The number of cases examined remained high in 2008, with ketamine and heroin continuing to be the most widely abused drugs in Hong Kong. The urinalysis service, which provides continuous analytical support in monitoring known drug abusers, saw a phenomenal growth in its demand in 2008. The toxicological examination service seeks to ascertain the presence or otherwise of drugs and poisons in suspicious deaths and in criminal offences where they are implicated.
In addition to routine handwriting and document examinations, the group also offered advice to the Immigration Department in developing and testing the new generation of HKSAR e-passports. In 2008, the Hong Kong Identity Card continued to be the most commonly forged document, followed by the People's Republic of China (PRC) Passport and the PRC Exit-Entry Permit.
The Criminalistics and Quality Management Group provides a wide range of support services to the law enforcement departments. It handles forensic biological samples and performs DNA analysis of exhibits seized from crime scenes. In addition, DNA profiles of convicted offenders, suspects and volunteers in its DNA Database are compared with outstanding DNA profiles of crime scene exhibits in unsolved cases. Comparisons are also performed among outstanding DNA profiles of exhibits. from different unsolved cases for possible connection. In 2008, there were 187 and 35 pairs of matches in the two types of comparisons, providing important investigative leads to the Police. In addition, the group deals with cases from the Immigration Department pertaining to right of abode applications that require genetic tests. The matched percentage rate was about 96 percent of all submitted cases. Other services provided include chemical analysis of trace evidence, physical examination of toolmarks and shoeprints, investigation of suspicious fire cases and traffic accident reconstruction. In 2008, the Group handled a number of serious. traffic accident and fire investigations, including the coach traffic accident at Sai Kung and the Cornwall Court fire at Mong Kok.
Immigration Department
Immigration Control
The Immigration Department plays an important role in maintaining law and order by controlling entry into Hong Kong. Through checks at control points and the vetting of entry applications, immigration officers detected undesirable people, including international criminals and doubtful visitors, and take appropriate action
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