ENG-2009 — Page 396

324 Public Order

in monitoring known drug abusers, the service also supported more frequent drug testing for young drug offenders under a two-year enhanced probation scheme pilot project. The toxicological examination service of the division 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 offers technical advice and testing to the Immigration Department in respect of the quality of HKSAR e-passports and identity cards. This year, the Hong Kong Identity Card continued to be the most commonly forged document, followed by Mainland travel documents and credit cards.

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. During the year, there were 189 and 32 pairs of matches in the two types of comparisons, providing important investigative leads for 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 95 per cent 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. During the year, the group handled a number of crime cases of high publicity, including acid throwing cases in Mong Kok and other districts.

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 detect undesirable people, including international criminals and dubious visitors. In 2009, a total of 37 163 undesirable people were refused permission to enter Hong Kong.

Detection of Forged Travel Documents

Strict measures are taken to guard against forged travel documents. The department discovered 1 207 forged travel documents during the year, compared with 1 423 in 2008. The department maintains close contact with local, Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies and consulates and exchanges information about these documents with them. Special operations were carried out by the department against forgery syndicates.