HONG KONG 2004 - Public Order

The Hong Kong Police Force is responsible for protecting the public, preventing and detecting crime, maintaining law and order, ensuring smooth traffic operations and reducing the number of traffic accidents, as well as stamping out illegal immigration.

As at December 31, the Police Force had an establishment of 27 754 police officers supported by more than 5 200 civilian staff and reinforced by some 4 500 volunteers serving in the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force.

During the year, Hong Kong continued to be one of the safest cities in the world, with overall law and order situation in the territory remaining stable. There was an eight per cent decline in the overall crime rate.

In meeting one of the operational targets of the Commissioner of Police for the year and in view of the integration of the Pearl River Delta region, the Force accorded priority to working closely with Mainland authorities to clamp down on crimes committed by illegal immigrants and two-way permit holders.

On other fronts, the Police Force maintained exchanges of intelligence with overseas law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism. A large-scale counter terrorism exercise was conducted at the Hong Kong International Airport in August and a tripartite cross-boundary counter terrorism exercise, which involved the Force and its counterparts in the Mainland and Macao, was conducted in November.

The Police Force continued to implement its 'Three Year Strategic Action Plan', revised and republished in 2003, which sets out the focus of police work from 2003 to 2006, in order to provide the most efficient and effective service to the public.

Reported crimes in 2004 totalled 81 315, a decrease of eight per cent compared with 88 377 crimes recorded in 2003. The crime rate stood at 1 188 cases per 100 000 population, a drop of 8.5 per cent compared with 1 299 cases in 2003. The decrease in crimes was mainly due to a fall in robbery, burglary and thefts.

Violent crimes decreased to 13 890 cases, a drop of 4.5 per cent compared with 14 542 cases in 2003. Robbery, wounding and serious assault accounted for 67.7 per cent of violent crimes in 2004. There was a notable decrease in the relatively more serious violent crimes such as homicide, robbery and blackmail.

Altogether, there were 2 237 cases of robbery in 2004, a drop of 30.4 per cent compared with 3 215 cases in 2003. There were three cases of robbery with genuine firearms; there was no such case in 2003. The number of bank robbery cases was 16, compared with 34 cases in 2003. Most of these cases were perpetrated by lone culprits and did not involve serious violence.

Regarding non-violent crimes, burglary decreased from 9 076 cases in 2003 to 7 002 in 2004, a drop of 22.9 per cent. Serious narcotics offences increased from 2 142 in 2003 to 2 167 in 2004, a rise of 1.2 per cent. Thefts decreased from 40 887 cases in 2003 to 37 500 in 2004, down by 8.3 per cent. Deception fell from 4 732 cases to 4 009 over the same period, a drop of 15.3 per cent.

Of the 81 315 reported crimes in 2004, 43.6 per cent or 35 439 crimes were detected, and 42 991 people were arrested. Of those arrested, 4 897 were juveniles (aged 10 to 15) and 5 812 were young persons (aged 16 to 20). Most of the juveniles and young persons were arrested for shop theft, miscellaneous theft, wounding and serious assault, and robbery. Drug-related offences were also prevalent among the crimes committed by young offenders.

Incidents involving the use of firearms remained very low. Stringent gun control laws, intelligence-led operations and exchange of intelligence with Mainland police authorities have been effective in curbing the illegal import of firearms into Hong Kong. In 2004, there were three reported cases, compared with four cases in 2003. A total of 15 firearms were seized as a result of police operations, thus reducing the possibility of firearms being used in the actual commission of crime.

In 2004, 1 740 vehicles were reported missing, a decrease of 24.4 per cent compared with 2 301 stolen vehicles in 2003. The number of luxury and high-performance vehicles reported missing continued to decline. Rigorous local enforcement action, enhanced boundary control, intelligence sharing with Mainland and overseas jurisdictions and various prevention campaigns contributed towards the reduction in vehicle thefts.

The Police Force has maintained persistent and proactive enforcement against organised crime and triad activities. There were 2 346 triad-related cases in 2004, showing a steady decline in the number of triad-related crimes reported over the last few years.

The strategies employed by the Police Force in fighting triad-related activities proved to be very effective. Various intelligence-led operations succeeded in neutralising a number of syndicates engaging in vice-related activities. The Organised and Serious Crime Ordinance provisions were actively applied to seek enhanced sentencing of criminals upon conviction and confiscation of crime proceeds.

Trans-national cooperation has played a significant role in combating crime. Overseas law enforcement agencies made full use of the platform for exchange of intelligence and knowledge sharing. Given Hong Kong's proximity to the Mainland and Macao, police authorities of the three jurisdictions have maintained close cooperation in addressing cross-boundary organised criminal activities, including mounting strategic anti-crime operations targeting syndicated vice and triad activities.

The Witness Protection Programme is administered by the Police Witness Protection Unit. The unit provides a wide range of protective measures as authorised by law to meet the needs of individual witnesses assessed as being exposed to a genuine threat of serious physical injury or death. The unit also assists and advises other units and divisions in the Police Force on protection of witnesses who are under a lesser degree of threat.

The Child Protection Policy Unit is responsible for mapping out strategy, procedures and training on handling of spouse battering, child abuse and elder abuse. The Unit organised or participated in publicity programmes on the prevention and handling of child abuse and domestic violence for the public and concerned professionals from the Government and non-governmental organisations.

In 2004, the Police investigated 115 child abuse cases (110 involving sexual abuse and five involving serious physical abuse). The figure increased by 10.6 per cent compared with a total of 104 cases in 2003. Joint investigations have been conducted with the Social Welfare Department (SWD) in cases that required immediate social work intervention.

In 2004, various training programmes were put in place to enhance the professional knowledge of police officers and SWD officers investigating into child abuse cases. Lectures were also organised for Court Prosecutors on how to handle vulnerable witnesses in court. An enhanced training package on handling domestic violence, elder abuse and family disputes was also produced for frontline police officers.

In 2004, there were 903 spouse battering cases, representing an increase of 13 per cent as compared with 2003. Following the Tin Shui Wai family tragedy in April 2004, there was increased public awareness of domestic violence. In addition to scheduled training and the referral mechanism with SWD, steps were taken to streamline the handling procedures for domestic violence, and the inter-departmental liaison on these cases.

Although child pornography and child sex tourism are not widespread in Hong Kong, the Prevention of Child Pornography Ordinance was enacted in July 2003 in compliance with the UN Convention on Rights of the Child and the International Labour Organisation's Convention 182. The ordinance, which came into operation in December 2003, enabled a wider scope of enforcement against child sex related activities. In support of an Interpol initiative, the Police mounted an intelligence-led operation against internet child pornography in May 2004 and arrested 24 persons. Twelve have been convicted of a relevant offence so far. The success of the operation has helped to raise public awareness of the criminality of such activities.

During the year, the number of reports of syndicated and serious fraud cases handled by the Commercial Crime Bureau declined by 17 per cent (69 compared with 83 in 2003) and the reported total financial losses in such cases decreased slightly by 2 per cent ($1,485 million compared with $1,514 million in 2003). The nature of these serious fraud cases continued to be diverse, with no predominant trend observed. Of the reports received, four victims have incurred losses of over $100 million. There was no particular topical fraud that had a significant impact on the society or the business environment.

The Commercial Crime Bureau took action to prevent the emergence of new fraudulent activities, such as a new type of employment fraud in which job-seekers were induced to invest in trading products that could purportedly make them huge profits.

Although counterfeit currencies were found in Hong Kong, the scale remained small and did not pose a significant threat to the monetary system.

Through close cooperation between the Force and the payment card industry, the number of counterfeit credit cards found and the value of fraudulent transactions decreased substantially in 2003 and 2004. The seizure of counterfeit credit cards dropped by 64 per cent compared with the 1 599 seized in 2003.

The number of technology crime cases reported for the year stood at 560, a small drop of 4.7 per cent compared with 588 in 2003, but the value of loss increased to $13.1 million.

Bogus websites relating to banks or financial institutions on the Internet had become a concern since late 2003. While most of these websites were hosted overseas, the Police Force secured the prompt closure of these websites through effective cooperation with overseas law enforcement agencies. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission repeatedly issued warnings to raise public awareness of such bogus websites.

In a series of cases in September, criminal syndicates successfully obtained bank account details and passwords through 'phishing' e-mails, and made unauthorised transfers of deposits over the internet from the bank accounts of victims. Swift police action over the cases resulted in over 20 arrests and prosecution of some of the offenders. Subsequently, many banks imposed enhanced security restrictions on inter-account transfers to prevent recurrence of similar cases. The Technology Crime Division of the Commercial Crime Bureau has continued to work closely with overseas law enforcement agencies, relevant government departments, information technology professionals and other agencies to address the evolving nature of technology crime. The Hong Kong Police took over the chairmanship of the Interpol Asia-South Pacific Working Party on Information Technology Crime in December 2004.

In 2004, the number of cases involving psychotropic drugs recorded a significant rise due to the Police targeting drug-related activities. A total of 71 kilograms of ketamine, 28 kilograms of methamphetamine, 201 kilograms of cannabis and 321 004 ecstasy-type tablets were seized. Moreover, 42.73 kilograms of cocaine were seized in 2004, which showed an increasing trend when compared with the seizure of seven kilograms in 2003.

In operations targeting narcotic drugs, the Police Force seized 42 kilograms of heroin and dismantled a heroin cutting centre. Enforcement actions also neutralised the operation of a number of premises used as divans where heroin was being sold and abused.

In 2004, the number of persons arrested for all kinds of drug offences totalled 8 295, compared with 8 652 in 2003. Among them, 1 299 were aged 16 to 20 years and 85 were aged under 16. Compared with 2003, there was an increase of 14.1 per cent in the number of arrested persons aged under 21. A total of 2 213 persons were arrested for offences connected to ketamine and 468 were arrested in cases related to ecstasy-type tablets. In respect of heroin, a total of 2 438 persons were arrested.

The involvement of youth in the abuse of psychotropic substance has been a cause for concern. The Police Force will continue to improve efforts in the area of drug abuse prevention, particularly among young persons.

The Narcotics Bureau of the Police Force has worked closely with the Mainland and overseas authorities to interdict illicit dangerous drugs reaching the SAR. The joint efforts have produced some fruitful results with significant seizures made in the Mainland, including 5.03 kilograms of heroin, 148 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2 380 000 ecstasy-type tablets, 15 kilograms of MDMA powder, six kilograms of ketamine, 54 000 bottles of ketamine hydrochloride, five kilograms of cannabis buds, 500 kilograms of ephedrine and 2.1 tons of methaqualone. Significant seizures were also made overseas, including 190 kilograms of methamphetamine, 5 000 ecstasy-type tablets, 796 kilograms of MDMA powder and 7.8 kilograms of cocaine.

Financial investigation is one of the means employed to tackle organised crimes. To enhance the financial investigation and intelligence analysis capability of the Police Force, two separate financial investigation units were amalgamated under the command of the Narcotics Bureau in early 2004. During the year, a good number of complex financial investigations were conducted. Since the introduction of the relevant legislation, a total of $370 million of crime proceeds have been confiscated and paid to the Government. Moreover, a total of $1,315 million of crime proceeds have been placed under restraint and another $112 million have been ordered to be confiscated which was pending recovery from convicted criminals. There were a total of 19 prosecutions against 40 money launderers in 2004.

Apart from confiscating drug proceeds and prosecuting money launderers, the Police Force took part in international initiatives against money laundering and terrorist financing. There was full participation in the activities of the Financial Action Task Force and the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering. The Police Force also worked closely with local financial regulators and relevant stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of local financial systems. Regular training seminars and talks to both the public and private sectors were conducted to raise awareness of money laundering issues.

The Crime Prevention Bureau continued to provide a public advisory service, and 25 084 security surveys were conducted for both the public and private sectors in the year.

The bureau continued its educational role through campaigns and seminars, its call-fax and web-page services and the deployment of the Robotcop and the crime prevention bus. In 2004, some 2 905 260 advisory leaflets on crime prevention were distributed to raise the awareness of crime among the public. Some 792 250 leaflets were also distributed to tourists at visa issuing centres in the Mainland that processed applications for visits to the SAR under the Individual Visit Scheme, and tourist areas in the SAR.

In 2004, the Police Force, in collaboration with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, produced the 3rd Generation Robotcop to foster crime prevention awareness among the younger generation. It was well-received by the public.

Appeals were regularly made through the media to heighten public awareness of prevalent trends in crime. In 2004, 107 media interviews were given to inform the public of current crime trends and relevant preventive measures.

The bureau also deals with the processing of licence applications and regular inspection of over 860 licensed security companies with a view to maintaining the required operational standard and training capability of the industry.

The Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau is responsible for the investigation of firearms-related crimes. The bureau is an American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) accredited laboratory. The accreditation serves as a professionally recognised indicator of service quality and integrity.

The Identification Bureau continued its key role in crime investigation and detection by applying the latest fingerprint detection techniques at crime scenes and subsequent fingerprint identification.

The Scene of Crime Section provides services for the recovery of both fingerprint and DNA evidence from crime scenes on a 24-hour basis. Through efficient coordination, Scene of Crime Officers attended 87 per cent of crime scenes within 45 minutes of being called. Since implementation of the provisions of the relevant legislation on DNA evidence, some 1 700 front-line officers, in both the Uniform Branch and Crime Wing, have been trained to take DNA samples (normally buccal swabs) from suspects, volunteers and convicted persons. Samples from the volunteers and convicted persons have generated DNA profiles of their donors, and are held in a database. These are regularly compared to DNA evidence recovered at crime scenes. Currently, the number of DNA profiles stored in the database exceeds 8 800. During the year, DNA evidence has established linkage in over 250 cases.

The bureau is making use of technological advances. Its fingerprint visualisation and search capabilities continue to be at the forefront of technology. The multifarious detection techniques, together with the sophisticated Computer Assisted Fingerprint Identification System, contribute substantially to the bureau's success in achieving a consistently high level of identification. In 2004, the bureau identified 1 793 suspects involved in 1 580 cases. The Photographic Section also assists in gathering valuable evidence from crime scenes. During the year, officers of the section attended 3 979 crime scenes and produced 1 409 298 photographs and slides. Apart from conventional photographic services, the section provides video crime scene re-enactments and the printing of photographs from bank surveillance films and videotapes.

The Liaison Bureau continues to function as a conduit between the Hong Kong Police and other police agencies, including Mainland Public Security Bureaux, Macao Police Services, overseas law enforcement agencies and some officials attached to local consulates, in investigation and other police related matters.

The bureau facilitated a tripartite liaison forum for the Heads of Crime Investigation Detective of the Mainland, Macao and Hong Kong on combating cross-boundary crimes. Bilateral meetings were regularly held between the Ministry of Public Security and the senior management of the Force to foster police cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The bureau also represents the Police Force in the International Criminal Police Organisation (ICPO), better known as Interpol, in the capacity of a sub-bureau of the China National Central Bureau. A Police Superintendent has been seconded to the Interpol General Secretariat in Lyon, France for a number of years. A Chief Inspector has just been seconded to the Interpol Southeast Asia Office in Bangkok with a view to strengthening cooperation with Interpol.

Four people were extradited to Hong Kong from overseas and five were extradited from Hong Kong to other countries during the year.

Hong Kong remains a place of major spectacle, whether for big public entertainments and displays or for large-scale political processions and demonstrations. The requirement to facilitate these activities in the safest and most convenient manner is one of the key roles played by the Police Tactical Unit (PTU). The successful policing of the activities to celebrate the 7th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR, the public procession on July 1, and the Lunar New Year Night Float Parade are just a few examples of the major operations conducted by PTU officers in 2004.

During the year, the PTU Headquarters trained four PTU Companies (a total of 680 officers) and continued to provide advanced training to Regional and District personnel to cope with anti-crime, illegal immigration and internal security commitments.

The Special Duties Unit (SDU), based at the PTU Headquarters, provides a tactical response in case of a terrorist incident. Recognising that Hong Kong cannot be immune from the potential threat of terrorism, the SDU has continued to enhance its capabilities through rigorous training and upgrading its operational assets.

In August 2004, a major aviation counter-terrorism exercise was conducted at Hong Kong International Airport. In addition, a tripartite cross-boundary counter terrorism exercise was conducted in November, involving the Hong Kong Police Force, Guangdong Public Security Bureau and Macao Police Force.

Through a well-received demonstration of its capabilities to the diplomatic community stationed in Hong Kong, the SDU has reassured Hong Kong's international partners of its ability and resoluteness to fight terrorism.

Apart from counter-terrorism efforts, the SDU has continued its efforts to keep Hong Kong safe. Most notably, Christmas Eve of 2003 saw the arrest of Hong Kong's most wanted criminal, along with the biggest seizure of weapons in 30 years.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Bureau is at the forefront of the Police Force's preparedness for terrorist incidents involving explosives or Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear (CBRN) agents. The bureau's capability is greatly enhanced by the EOD cadre, a group of part-time police volunteers who have been trained in improvised explosive device disposal. The cadre receives ongoing training and is called to assist the Unit as needed, for example, during VIP visits. As part of an ongoing counter terrorist exchange programme, officers from the bureau exchanged visits with their counterparts in the United Kingdom, USA and Australia, and the bureau has continued to enhance its intelligence network with bomb data centres around the world.

Beyond the central role of dealing with improvised explosive devices in Hong Kong, the EOD Bureau provides other services to the community and the Police Force. The bureau has dealt with World War II munitions which are still found from time to time. It disposed of thousands of pyrotechnic devices surrendered to the Police Force. The bureau has a heavy training commitment, raising awareness among officers throughout the Force and other Government departments on the actions required when dealing with criminal and terrorist incidents. In addition, the bureau provides training and licensing services to units which are required to use and handle explosives.

Since 1994, there has been a downward trend in illegal immigration from the Mainland. During the year, 2 899 illegal immigrants were arrested by the police, an average of eight per day, representing a decrease of 24 per cent compared with 3 809 in 2003. Of these, 55 per cent crossed the land boundary and the remaining 45 per cent claimed to have entered by sea.

Close liaison in the form of regular liaison meetings and exchange of intelligence was maintained with the Guangdong Border Defence Bureau. The Guangdong bureau has been working in partnership with the Police Force to prevent cross-boundary crimes. The entire boundary fence is now monitored round-the-clock with the use of advanced technical equipment to intercept illegal immigrants from the Mainland.

There are about 170 dogs in the Police Dog Unit, comprising general patrol dogs and 'sniffer' dogs. The unit is responsible for ensuring that all dogs and handlers are professionally trained and that their skills are maintained at a high level of proficiency. The unit also trains drug detection dogs from the Customs and Excise Department.

Special 'sniffer' dogs are stationed at Hong Kong International Airport and the Kai Tak Operational Base to provide round-the-clock service in search operations. The unit's explosives detection dogs also play a key role in security operations undertaken by the Police Force.

In 2004 there were 15 026 traffic accidents involving casualties, representing an increase of 4.1 per cent compared with 2003. However, the number of fatal traffic accidents in 2004 was 160, representing a decrease of 7.5 per cent compared with 2003. During 2004, 434 863 fixed penalty tickets for moving offences were issued, an increase of 16.1 per cent compared with 2003. Police officers and traffic wardens issued a total of 552 339 tickets for parking offences during 2004, representing an increase of 9.1 per cent. The number of summons issued to traffic offenders in 2004 stood at 67 701, an increase of 8.9 per cent compared with 2003.

On April 1, the criteria for issuing Security Personnel Permits (SPPs) were further revised. An additional avenue through which applicants for Categories A, B and C SPPs can satisfy the criterion of 'proficiency in security work' was introduced. Moreover, the validity of the 'certification of employment by prospective employers' criterion was extended for six months to September 30, 2004. The number of valid SPP holders stood at 244 503 at the end of 2004.

In June, re-examination was satisfactorily completed for more than 800 previously approved modified firearms. This ensured better safety to persons engaged in film shooting involving the use of firearms and members of the public.

As at December 2004, there are 195 licensed massage establishments, 188 licensed pawnbrokers and 5 045 liquor licensed premises in Hong Kong.

The Marine Region has completed initial research into the introduction of new operating protocols required for policing the waters of Hong Kong for the next 10-15 years. Essentially, the introduction of technologically advanced coastal surveillance systems linked with an enhanced radar system as well as faster, more practical patrol vessels will not only advance compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), but also better focus resources to deal with the multitude of activities associated with policing the busy waters of Hong Kong. In the long run, this will bring about considerable savings in both capital and recurrent expenditure, while equipping the Region to better address the projected policing requirements of the next decade.

The Police Public Relations Branch (PPRB) plays a vital role in informing the public about the work of the police in order to project a positive image of the Force, as well as enlisting public support in the maintenance of law and order via a proactive community relations programme.

Police Community Relations Officers attached to different districts work closely with representatives from government departments and organisations to keep the public well informed of police policies and operational priorities.

During the year, the Secondary School Liaison Officers Programme and the Junior Police Call (JPC) Scheme continued to serve as bridges between the police and youngsters. Membership of the JPC scheme stood at 140 482 at the end of 2004.

In conjunction with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), the Police Force produces two weekly television programmes, the 30-minute Police Magazine in Cantonese and the five-minute Police Report in English, to keep the public abreast of prevalent crime trends and to appeal for information that will assist the police in investigations of crimes.

Police Magazine continued to enjoy high ratings while enhancing cooperation between the Police Force and the community. In early 2004, with the support and assistance of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau, a series of episodes on cross-boundary crime prevention was broadcast. The series aimed to enhance the public awareness about prevailing crime trends in Shenzhen. Other useful information, including the telephone numbers for different emergency services in the Mainland, was also provided to the public.

To enhance public knowledge and understanding of police work, a radio programme jointly produced by the police and Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited was broadcast from April to August 2004. Police officers from 16 formations shared their working experiences and memorable stories with the audience on a weekly basis.

The programme Missing Persons Unit, jointly produced by PPRB and Television Broadcasts Limited in 2004, was broadcast right after the drama Without A Trace from January to June to appeal for information on missing persons from the audience. It yielded fruitful results with the location of two missing persons based on information provided by the audience. The second series of 24 episodes of the programme was launched in November.

Information relating to police activities is disseminated to local and overseas media organisations round-the-clock. During the year, information officers handled 314 444 media enquiries, issued 1 664 press releases, organised 126 press conferences and briefings and assisted media coverage at 69 serious crime scenes and other incidents.

The PPRB also worked closely with the Information Services Department and other government departments, as well as the Fight Crime Committee, in planning and implementing the Fight Crime Publicity Campaign 2004-05 with the theme 'Help Police Fight Crime'.

To commend the initiative of citizens in helping the police fight crime, the Police Force held Good Citizen Award Scheme ceremonies in June and December, with sponsorship from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.

Police telephone hotlines and Crime Information Forms provide convenient channels for reporting crime. A total of 22 487 hotline phone calls (not including those made to the emergency hotline 999) as well as 1 767 returned Crime Information Forms were registered by year-end, resulting in 2 153 arrests.

To further publicise police-related information effectively, the PPRB continued to update the contents and improve the presentation of Force publications, including the biweekly newspaper OffBeat, the JPC monthly newsletter and the Police in Figures leaflet. The Police Review 2003 won an Honourable Mention in the 2004 Best Annual Report Awards organised by the Hong Kong Management Association.

Following completion of the new Police Headquarters complex, the Force's large-scale building programme has entered a new era. The new Arsenal House complex is regarded as the most significant building project in the Force's history. Construction of the building, at No. 1 Arsenal Street, was completed in April, and the building has been in full operation since October. The new complex is a modern and intelligent building incorporating energy conservation measures as well as design features that minimise recurrent costs. The three main structures are the High Tower Block, accommodating various Police Headquarters units; the Low Block, housing the common facilities and public interface offices; and the Central District Headquarters and Central Division Police Station. By co-locating various publicly accessible offices under one roof, a more convenient one-stop service for the public has been provided. In addition, sharing the common facilities, which include an auditorium, a multi-purpose hall, catering facilities and a firing range, has also enhanced police operational efficiency.

Other major capital works projects coming to fruition include a new police post at Penny's Bay that was completed in November. The police post was built as part of the associated infrastructure and community facilities supporting the future Hong Kong Disneyland Theme Park on Lantau Island. It also serves residents in the area.

Also being constructed are two purpose-built police operational bases. These house the New Territories South Regional Police Headquarters and Operational Base in Tsuen Wan, and the new Marine Police Outer Waters District Headquarters and Marine North Division Operational Base at Ma Liu Shui.

The New Territories South Regional Headquarters is scheduled for completion in mid-2005. This functional office complex will house all Headquarters operational and support units in the Region under one roof, and will enhance police responsiveness to incidents, as well as the quality of services provided to the public. The new marine police operational base is due for completion in early 2006 to replace its existing overcrowded accommodation at the same location, and has been purpose-designed for operational sea-going duties.

The rapid growth of cross-boundary traffic makes the construction of new boundary crossing facilities an imminent need. Presently, the Force is participating in the development and implementation of boundary crossing facilities at Dongjiaotou, Shekou, and also at the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Rail Spur Line East Rail Extension at Lok Ma Chau. Both facilities will be policed upon their completion, in mid 2006 and late 2006 respectively.

A further cross-boundary project, the 'Sky City' at Hong Kong International Airport, is under development by the Airport Authority. It will comprise police facilities at the customs, immigration and quarantine point within the Skyplaza. The first phase of this project will be implemented by July 2006.

During the year, almost half of the large motorcycle fleet was renewed while, in line with overall Government policy, the overall size of the fleet has been reduced. The reduction has been achieved through vehicle resource re-allocation and process re-engineering, without compromising either safety or service levels.

To meet the challenges ahead and improve its service to the Force and the public, the Information Systems Wing underwent fundamental organisational re-structuring during 2004. As a result of the re-organisation, the wing has been streamlined with day-to-day functional and business-related activities being performed by nine operational divisions instead of 18 under the old structure. Other main features of the re-organisation included the amalgamation of Information Technology Branch and Communications Branch services such as the merger of their helpdesks, as well as centralisation of administrative and financial support staff to optimise the deployment of resources.

One of the police management priorities is to apply new advances in technology and knowledge to enhance management efficiency, improve communication and develop knowledge management. In furtherance of this, a new Information Systems Strategy Review commenced in 2003. The first phase was a Data Security Review, completed in April 2004. This was followed by an Information Technology Audit, which included Force-wide consultation on user satisfaction and information needs. To carry forward the review, an advisory panel comprising academics and experts has been set up for consultation to take advantage of the latest developments in the field. A similar review is now under way for communication systems.

Epitomising the increasingly close collaboration in the areas of information technology and communications has been the development of the Third Generation Command and Control System Project (CC3). As 2004 drew to a close, CC3 was successfully rolled out in the New Territories Regions. This has brought the Force to the forefront of incident handling and dispatch capabilities for emergency services throughout the Asia-Pacific area, providing stable and secure radio communication and improving the deployment of manpower and resources to better serve the people of Hong Kong. The facility will be extended to Hong Kong Island Region in May 2005 and to the Kowloon Regions in January 2006.

The Force continues to conduct Staff Opinion and Customer Satisfaction Surveys. The surveys are conducted every three years by independent agencies and incorporate elements of the Management and Public Opinion Surveys respectively. Force mini-surveys are conducted as and when required between major surveys to assess the effectiveness of measures introduced to address issues identified and to gauge views and responses from staff and the public on specific issues. The strategy will leverage technology and costs. The Force information technology platform gives the Force the ability to conduct timely internal mini-surveys.

In 2002 the Force formally launched the Knowledge Management (KM) project with the objective to improve overall effectiveness and efficiency. Aiming to help retain and reuse the wealth of knowledge inside the Force and create a pro-active learning environment for the Force to become a learning organisation, the Performance Review Branch in 2004 substantially applied the systematic KM processes by which information needed for the Force to succeed was created, captured, shared and used. This information has now been codified into team/unit/individual/external knowledge and incorporated into the Police Intranet, known as POINT.

Following a very successful inception in 2003, the 2004/05 Service Quality Award was well received by members of the Force, and a number of entries were received from various formations. The main theme of the 2004 award was 'Integration of People, Process and Technology' with a view to encouraging innovation and improvement in the workplace.

The Research and Inspections Branch assists management at all levels in the Police Force to identify and realise practical opportunities for improved quality and performance, including better resource management. The new inspection process has already assisted in the identification of a number of areas and processes to which re-engineering or modification will realise efficiencies and, in some cases, savings.

The Complaints and Internal Investigations Branch investigates public complaints against members of the Police Force, including traffic wardens, civilian staff and members of the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force. Such investigations are monitored by the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC), an independent body comprising leading members of the community appointed by the Chief Executive.

In 2004, the Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO) received 3 222 complaints, a decrease of 161 cases, or 4.8 per cent compared with 2003. While sustaining a decreasing trend in complaints, the Force will continue to focus its efforts in complaints prevention and to deliver quality service. Different avenues like LED display panels and notice boards in police stations/premises and the Police Intranet were used to disseminate the message of 'Smart Cop Tips' to reduce avoidable complaints. Seminars and workshops on complaints prevention targeted newly joined Force members and other officers. Concerted efforts were made with the Complaints Prevention Committee comprising Force members from various formations and units by organising integrated complaints reduction activities and publication of complaints prevention periodicals.

Information technology is fully utilised to reinforce the effort. The CAPO Complaints Index & Statistics System (CISS) has helped in early identification of complaint trends and early intervention to be implemented before a problem proliferates. Public support and understanding also play a vital role in reducing complaints.

During the year, the IPCC endorsed the investigation results of 3 299 complaint cases, which involved 5 837 allegations. The rate of substantiation of complaint allegations that were fully investigated was 13.1 per cent; 44.1 per cent of the allegations were classified as 'withdrawn', 'not pursuable' and 'curtailed'. Complaints of a minor or trivial nature were dealt with by informal resolution, which was adopted in handling 20.9 per cent of the complaints. A total of nine police officers were subject to disciplinary action arising from complaints made by members of the community.

A civilian establishment of more than 5 200 in 56 different grades is deployed throughout the Police Force, representing about 16 per cent of its total manpower. Civilian staff members play a vital role by performing a wide variety of functional duties to support police operations.

The year 2004 was particularly fruitful for the Training Wing as it broke fresh ground in many of its pursuits and opened up new horizons.

With the hard work and commitment of colleagues in the wing, prizes were won both at home and abroad, in green management and e-learning. The professionalism and dedication of instructional personnel were also rewarded: for the first time, a training formation in the Force received ISO 9001 certification.

During the year, the wing was actively involved in preparing for the opening of the Hong Kong Police College in March 2005. The College aspires to be one of the centres of excellence in police training in the world.

Nine e-Learning interactive multimedia courses and more than 22 e-Seminars were developed in the year. A Competency Assessment Grading System was also developed to assess the competency and skills attained by trainees.

In February, the JPO Development Learning Division was presented with the ISO 9001: 2000 Quality Management System certificate. It was the first training formation to receive the quality certification.

Prominent Hong Kong business, academic, political and religious leaders were invited to discuss such issues as the economic and political development of the region, cross-border policing issues, the evolving terrorist threat and the Hong Kong Muslim community.

The Police Band played at official events such as HKSAR Establishment Day, National Day and state dinners. During the year, the Band was invited to perform overseas, including the Shanghai Tourism Festival and the Opening Ceremony of the Guangzhou Office of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Over the year, the Training Wing worked closely with universities notably on interpersonal communication skills and psychological competencies training. With the establishment of the Police College in 2005, there will be further and closer cooperation with universities in instructor training and foundation training.

The e-learning package on 'Guidelines on Use of Firearms', produced by the Training Wing, won the Gold Award in the Custom Content category of the 2004 Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Awards program. Brandon Hall.com is a leading US research and consulting corporation in e-learning. The Force was the first Hong Kong organisation to win the Gold Award in any category of the program.

There were 3 251 applications for Inspectorate post in 2004, compared with 2 414 in 2003. Of the 10 officers who were appointed as Inspectors, five were serving officers promoted from within the ranks. Recruitment at the Constable rank remained satisfactory with 85 recruits out of 5 961 applicants. New proactive measures were implemented through the Police Mentorship Programme and Auxiliary (Undergraduate) Scheme to recruit high calibre university graduates. Selection processes at Inspectorate and Constable ranks were also revamped in 2004, with preferred competences included.

The establishment of the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force (HKAPF) stands at some 4 500. In an internal security situation, the HKAPF discharges duties to guard strategic and sensitive installations and to man command centers. They also act as a reserve to assist during natural disasters and civil emergencies. On a day-to-day basis, the HKAPF supports their regular counterparts at large-scale crowd management events and pre-planned operations.