ENG-2020 — Page 309

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Public Order

fire personnel. The department also formulated fire safety requirements for quarantine and medical facilities to enable their early commissioning. Rapid Response Teams were also set up to provide on-site emergency services at the new facilities. Serving and retired members of the department's staff proactively participated in a range of support duties, including conducting spot checks on persons under compulsory quarantine, assisting in the collection of specimens for testing and providing administrative support at testing centres for the government's Universal Community Testing Programme.

Public Liaison

A public liaison group comprising 30 members of the public from different walks of life is appointed annually to encourage public participation in monitoring and improving the department's delivery of fire and ambulance services.

Government Flying Service

The Government Flying Service provides a wide range of flying services, including round-the- clock search and rescue coverage, casualty and medical evacuation, firefighting and support for other government departments.

It has a staff of 268 disciplined and 61 civilian members. In 2020, members flew a total of 7,989 hours, helped in 1,041 search and rescue operations and took 1,496 people to hospital by helicopter. By the end of 2020, it operated three fixed-wing aircraft and nine helicopters for operations and flight training.

Immigration Department Immigration Control

The Immigration Department plays an important role in maintaining law and order by controlling entry into Hong Kong. Immigration officers conduct checks at control points and vet entry applications to detect undesirable people, including international criminals and dubious visitors. The territory refused the entry of 9,387 people in 2020.

Detection of Forged Travel Documents

The department takes strict measures to guard against the use of forged travel documents and carries out special operations against forgery syndicates. In 2020, it detected 98 forged travel documents. The department maintains close contact and exchanges information with local, Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies and consulates.

Interception of Targeted or Wanted Persons

In 2020, officers intercepted at immigration control points 72,651 targeted or wanted persons in connection with offences or court orders ranging from failure to settle outstanding fines to serious crime.

Combating Unlawful Employment

The department's Anti-Illegal Workers Combat Squad combats illegal employment, conducting undercover patrols at illegal worker black spots. In 2020, 13,612 raids were conducted and

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