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Public Order

Government Laboratory

The Government Laboratory's Forensic Science Division provides a comprehensive forensic service to the criminal justice system in Hong Kong. It has two operational groups, the Drugs, Toxicology and Documents Group and the Criminalistics and Quality Management Group.

The Drugs, Toxicology and Documents Group examines cases in three areas:

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Abused drugs. The number of examined cases was similar to that of 2012, with ketamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, cannabis and benzodiazepines, in descending order of encounters, contributing 87 per cent of the cases examined.

Urinalysis and analysis of blood and urine for drink-driving and drug-driving cases, hair drug testing to support the Healthy School Programme and toxicological examination. Compared to 2012, the demand for urinalysis, drink-driving, drug- driving and hair drug testing remained steady. The toxicological examination service seeks to ascertain the presence or otherwise of drugs and poisons where they are implicated in suspicious deaths and criminal offences.

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 HKSAR e-passports and identity cards. In 2013, the Hong Kong Identity Card continued to be the most commonly forged document, followed by foreign travel visas and Mainland travel documents.

The Criminalistics and Quality Management Group provides a wide range of support services to the law enforcement agencies. These include laboratory analysis of trace evidence retrieved from crime exhibits, such as paint and glass fragments and textile fibres by chemical means, and physical examination of tool-marks and shoeprints. A 24-hour, on-site service helps relevant agencies to investigate and collect evidence in suspicious fires, traffic accidents and violent crimes with blood spattering. The group also provides DNA analysis for biological exhibits. The DNA profiles generated are compared at two levels: first, those from convicted offenders, suspects and volunteers are compared with outstanding DNA profiles of crime exhibits in unsolved cases for a possible match, and second, outstanding DNA profiles of exhibits from different unsolved cases are compared amongst themselves for possible connections. In 2013, urgent DNA analysis performed in a tragic accident overseas involving Hong Kong travellers helped timely victim identification. In addition, the group carried out genetic tests for the Immigration Department in relation to right of abode applications, handling slightly more than in 2012.

Civil Aid Service

The Civil Aid Service (CAS) is a government auxiliary emergency service, established under the Civil Aid Service Ordinance. It has an establishment of 3,634 adult members, 3,232 cadets and 103 civil servants.

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