ENG-2011 — Page 389

Public Order | 337

(1) the examination of abused drugs, of which the number of examined cases remained high in 2011, with ketamine continuing to be the most encountered drug, followed by heroin, amphetamine type stimulants, cocaine, benzodiazepines and cannabis;

(2) the toxicology service performs urinalysis and toxicological examination. The demand of urinalysis service remained high during the year. In addition to providing drug testing in monitoring known drug abusers, the service also supported more frequent drug testing for young drug offenders under an enhanced probation scheme. 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. Besides the routine service, it also provided analytical support to other government departments and bureaux. For instance, technical advice and support were contributed to the School Drug Testing programme, a pilot scheme on hair drug testing (hair samples were taken from drug users monitored by organisations in the drug treatment and rehabilitation sector), and the legislative amendments of the Road Traffic Ordinance for implementation of a package of measures to combat drug driving; and

(3) the routine examination of handwriting and documents. The group also offers technical advice and testing to the Immigration Department in respect of the quality of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) e-passports and identity cards. During the year, the Hong Kong Identity Card continued to be the most commonly forged document, followed by Mainland travel documents and foreign travel visas. The number of forged credit cards submitted for examination also showed a considerable increase.

The Criminalistics and Quality Management Group provides a wide range of support services to the law enforcement departments. Services provided include chemical analysis of trace evidence, physical examination of toolmarks and shoeprints, investigation of suspicious fires and traffic accident reconstruction. In addition, the group handles forensic biological samples and performs DNA analysis. of exhibits seized from crime scenes. At the same time, DNA profiles of convicted offenders, suspects and volunteers 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, matching results from the DNA comparisons continued to provide important investigative leads for law enforcement agencies. In addition, the group deals with cases from the Immigration Department pertaining to right of abode applications that require genetic tests. During the year, an expert from the group gave evidence at the Coroner's Court on the fatal shooting of eight Hong Kong citizens in a tourist coach in Manila on August 23, 2010. Officers in the group also continued to work closely with the police in numerous major scene investigations, including fire outbreaks which claimed the lives of a number of citizens in two residential buildings at To Kwa Wan in June and in Fa Yuen Street in November.