Apart
from conventional photographic services, the unit provided special
forensic photographic services such as infrared, ultraviolet and laser
photography, video crime scene re-enactment and the printing of
photographs from bank surveillance films and videotapes.
Certificate
of No Criminal Conviction
The
principal purpose of the certificate is to give people wishing to emigrate
evidence of no criminal record. A parallel function of the Certificate of
No Criminal Conviction (CNCC) Office is to process requests for access to
conviction data in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.
In 2000, the Office processed 16 633 local and overseas CNCC applications
and 451 access requests to criminal conviction data. The performance
pledge of issuing CNCC certificates within 28 days was met in all cases.
Forensic
Firearms Examination
This
specialist Bureau continued to play an important role in the investigation
of firearm-related crimes by improving its quality of services to the
Force and other disciplined services. Interaction with leading
professional associations worldwide ensures the Bureau uses the most
advanced technology in forensic examination. During the year, it gained
accreditation from the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors to
share world-class status with the likes of the FBI Laboratory. Links with
other regional forensic laboratories are now well established to assist
with the investigation of cross border crime.
Forensic
Support
The
Hong Kong Police Force is indebted to the Forensic Pathology Service of
the Department of Health and the Forensic Science Division of the
Government Laboratory for their assistance in solving many crimes.
Pathologists attended 155 crime scenes during the year, as well as
carrying out a number of crime-related post-mortems, clinical examinations
and laboratory examinations, and attending trials as expert witnesses.
Support from the Government Laboratory came in the form of scientific
services including controlled drugs and toxicological analyses, DNA
profiling, document examination, traffic accident reconstruction and
suspicious fire investigations. In 2000, the Forensic Science Division
examined 17 371 cases and inspected 736 crime scenes. One of the
highlights in the year was the setting up of a DNA Database Section that
will play an important role in profiling suspects and detecting serial
crimes.
Liaison
The
Liaison Bureau is responsible for coordinating all police-related
enquiries from other law enforcement agencies and local consulate
officials and acts as the Force's main contact point with other law
enforcement agencies on police-related matters.
The Bureau liaises with Mainland public security authorities through the
National Central Bureau China in Beijing, the Guangdong Liaison Office,
Shenzhen and Zhuhai Liaison Sub-Offices in Guangdong Province and other
Mainland law enforcement organisations. Two liaison officers from the
Ministry of Public Security are now based in Hong Kong to coordinate
police cooperation matters between the Hong Kong Police Force and Mainland
public security authorities. Since 1990, 176 criminal fugitives, 163
stolen vehicles and 116 containers have been returned to Hong Kong from
the Mainland.
The Bureau conducts international liaison, in its capacity as a sub-bureau
of the National Central Bureau, with Interpol ¡X the International
Criminal Police Organisation (ICPO) based in Lyon, France. A
Superintendent from the Hong Kong Police Force is seconded to ICPO General
Secretariat and works as a coordinator of the Asian Region. Another Chief
Inspector is attached to the HKSAR Economic and Trade Office in Sydney,
Australia as a police liaison officer whose primary role is to enhance
international cooperation in the fight against transnational crime.
Police
Tactical Unit
At
any given time there are seven Police Tactical Unit (PTU) Companies in
operation: one in each land Region and two receiving training at PTU
Headquarters in Fanling. In addition to general policing duties these
companies provide a reserve of manpower that benefits from specialist
training and is used to working together for routine or emergency duties.
Each PTU Company comprises 170 officers, is commanded by a Superintendent,
and formed usually from officers on watch and ward duties in a given
Region. Members receive three months (four for the supervisory officers)
of intensive training in dealing with crowds, both peaceful and riotous,
and are also taught to advanced levels in subjects such as defensive
tactics, use of firearms and anti-crime measures. Following the training,
each company performs a 30-week long attachment to a land Region where
their training equip them to deal with almost any policing situation. At
the conclusion of the attachment, officers will return to general policing
duties.
During the year, PTU officers were routinely deployed on anti-crime
patrols, anti-illegal immigration operations and security duties, and
crowd management during festive occasions, public gatherings, processions
and demonstrations. Their special training in dealing with large crowds
played a vital role in policing the exceptional numbers enjoying the
millennium celebrations and helped maintain Hong Kong's reputation as a
safe city.
PTU training staff maintained close liaison with similar bodies around the
world, engaging in exchange visits to observe new techniques in crowd
management and use of new equipment. During the year, officers visited
police units with similar responsibilities in the UK, Australia, Japan and
South Africa.
Bomb
Disposal
The
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Bureau is responsible for all bomb
disposal work in Hong Kong, both on dry land and underwater, maintaining a
team on permanent standby that can attend incidents in world-class
response time to help return the affected area to normal as soon as
possible, in the safest way.
During the year, the EOD Bureau dealt with an average of three callouts
per week, handling items ranging from unexploded Second World War bombs
and suspected bombs left after bank robberies, to illegal fireworks and
several finds of suspected explosives including a large haul of explosives
used for fish bombing.
One of the most dangerous operations involved a 500-lb aircraft bomb found
on a construction site near the Queen Mary Hospital. Police had to
evacuate residents from a wide area around the site as the bomb was in a
very unstable condition. Had the bomb exploded, it would have caused
extensive damage to the hospital and nearby residences.
In addition to emergency responses, the Bureau undertook a major operation
to safely destroy some 1 000 kg of unstable high explosives seized in past
criminal cases. Carried out over three days, the operation involved
officers from both the permanent staff and the volunteer EOD cadre who
safely destroyed the explosives by using some 40 controlled explosions.
The Bureau also took responsibility for ensuring that the Force complied
with the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance
regarding the safe use, storage and transport of ammunition.
Counter
Terrorism
Like
most countries, Hong Kong is constantly on the alert against terrorist
activities. An elite formation, the Special Duties Unit (SDU) has been
specially trained to counter any threats should they arise. Close liaison
is maintained with similar units overseas.
During the year and leading into 2001, the Force held a series of
counter-terrorist exercises in which various units tested their individual
responses and responsibilities when facing a major incident. Experience
gained in these practice sessions will be further put to the test when all
units take part in a major force-wide counter-terrorist exercise during
2001.
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