ENG-2015 — Page 329

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Public Order

• Abused drugs. The number of examined cases was similar to that of 2014. Methamphetamine, ketamine, cocaine, heroin, cannabis, benzodiazepines and khat contributed to most of the findings in these cases.

• Analysis of blood and urine in drink-driving and drug-driving cases, urinalysis and hair drug testing to support abused drug monitoring programmes, and toxicological examination. Compared with 2014, the demand for urinalysis dropped while that for drink-driving, drug-driving and hair drug testing remained comparable. 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 in respect of the quality of Hong Kong Identity Cards. In 2015, among items examined, the Hong Kong Identity Cards continued to be the most commonly forged document, followed by travel documents and credit cards.

The Criminalistics and Quality Management Group provides a wide range of forensic testing services to law enforcement agencies, such as laboratory analyses on trace evidence, impression evidence and DNA evidence. The group also provides a round-the-clock crime scene examination and consultation service, which aims to lend expert assistance to the identification, retrieval and preservation of scientific evidence materials for examination. There are officers specially trained to ascertain causes of fires, reconstruct traffic accidents and interpret bloodstain patterns in violent crimes. For instance, a detailed investigation was undertaken for a fatal garage explosion in Wong Tai Sin in April 2015.

Civil Aid Service

The Civil Aid Service (CAS) is a government auxiliary emergency service set up under the Civil Aid Service Ordinance, with 103 civil servants and about 7,000 adult volunteers and cadets. Members are trained to work in emergencies such as typhoons, floods and landslides.

In 2015, CAS members were mobilised for 133 mountain search and rescue operations and 22 rural firefighting operations. In response to the avian influenza A (H7N9) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome alerts between January to June, members helped the Department of Health manage the quarantine centre at Lady MacLehose Holiday Village in Sai Kung.

The CAS strives to develop leadership potential and cultivate civic awareness in young people by recruiting 12- to 17-year-olds into the CAS Cadet Corps. Besides taking part in recreational activities, these cadets are given various types of training, including foot drill, basic emergency rescue, crowd management, first aid and rock climbing. In 2015, the CAS continued to promote social inclusiveness by recruiting non-Chinese-speaking cadets.

Websites

Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance: www.sciocs.gov.hk Independent Commission Against Corruption: www.icac.org.hk

Security Bureau: www.sb.gov.hk (links to Disciplined Services)

The Three-year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services in Hong Kong (2015-2017): www.nd.gov.hk/en/three_year_plan_2015_2017.htm

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