Off Beat

Stolen vehicles returned

Hong Kong Police and Guangdong PSB officers examine the vehicles being handed back to the HKSAR A SMALL fleet of 11 stolen vehicles valued at more than $6.7 million was returned to the Hong Kong Police by the Guangdong Public Security Bureau (PSB) at Huanggang Boundary Crossing Point in Shenzhen on October 21.
The vehicles, eight saloon cars, two crane lorries and a dredger, were reported stolen at various locations in Hong Kong between June 1992 and January 1998.
This is the second time that Guangdong PSB has returned missing vehicles recovered in the mainland after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region last year. It is also the 18th occasion since the first arrangement for Guangdong PSB to return missing vehicles to Hong Kong Police was made in 1991.

A total of 150 missing vehicles including saloon cars, lorries, tractors, trailers, dredgers and motorcycles have been handed over by Guangdong PSB since then.
On behalf of the Hong Kong Police, Chief Superintendent of the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, Lee Ka-chiu, took custody of the returned vehicles.
Mr Lee said: "The number of vehicles reported missing has been steadily decreasing over the years, only 1,802 vehicles were reported missing or stolen in the first nine months of this year which represents a significant drop when compared with 6,918 case in 1992."
This most recent handing back of stolen vehicles symbolised the continual commitment and co-operation between Hong Kong and mainland authorities in combating cross-boundary crimes, especially in tackling the problem of smuggling stolen vehicles, Chief Superintendent Lee said.

Auxies playing more active
and diverse roles in Wanchai

SINCE its establishment in 1959, the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force has been shouldering its fair share of responsibility for maintaining law and order with its counterparts in the regular Force.
Auxy officers are well-trained and capable of assuming a wide variety of police duties which is the situation in Wanchai where, beginning this year, the 230 auxy officers in the district have been mobilised to work hand-in-hand with regular officers.

Wanchai District Commander Tsang Wai-hung (right) chatting with auxy officers in the Wanchai Police Station mess

"Our auxies play an increasingly more active role in the planning and execution of police duties," said District Commander of Wanchai, Tsang Wai-hung, citing the orderliness of the recent National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations as a testimony to the professional capability of Wanchai's auxiliary officers who were actively involved in crowd management.
"Apart from their traditional role of helping to maintain public order, auxy officers are also being, for the first time, deployed on night patrols in police vans and actively participate in raids on vice establishments," he said. "Auxy officers have proven themselves to be keen, energetic and their performance of duty was equal to that of their regular counterparts."
The District Commander went on to say that in order to make the best use of auxy resources (who, given more varied training, would prove to be an even more invaluable asset to the Force), Wanchai would adopt a higher degree of flexibility regarding duty hours of its auxies so that more could be deployed during busy weekday hours to strengthen police presence in the district.
Auxiliary officers in Wanchai are delighted with these new measures. Said Auxiliary Police Constable Yeung Yuk-fai: "I'm glad to be able to participate in night patrols and raids which widen my exposure to policing duties and broaden my career opportunities within the Force."
Commented Auxiliary Senior Inspector Paul Cheung: "By and large auxiliary police are responsible for crowd control during horse racing nights and soccer matches in Wanchai. Efficiently managing the crowds enhances our confidence and I think that we have proven we can be relied upon to take on more of a variety of police work."
According to Auxiliary Superintendent Chan Ka-leung, an auxy for more than 20 years, auxiliary police in Wanchai are ready to meet new challenges: "Over the years in Wanchai, auxiliaries have been playing a positive and active part with our regular counterparts in fulfilling our firm commitment to the community in maintaining public order and fighting crime. As we progress into the next millennium, we'll continue to work even closer with our regular colleagues to better enhance our co-ordination and integration."
On the social front, and helping forge closer relationships between the two forces, auxiliary officers are being encouraged to participate with regular officers in the myriad of Force sports and recreational activities.

JPOA 21st anniversary ceremony

Acting DCP MAN Leung Fung-shun with JPOA Chairman Lau Kam-wah at the Association's celebration THE Junior Police Officers' Association celebrated its 21st anniversary on 27 October at the Police Sports and Recreation Club.
Officiated by Acting DCP MAN Leung Fung-shun, all guests and members attended a cocktail reception to celebrate the event following speeches by JPOA Chairman Lau Kam-wah, Dr. the Honorable Sze-yuen Chung and Mr Leung.
During the ceremony souvenirs were presented to retired JPOA members by the guests of honour.

For 21 years the Association has played a vital role of maintaining communication and promoting understanding between Force management and junior police officers. Acting with fairness and impartiality, the Association has gone from strength to strength and is committed to providing quality service to the community and to fulfilling their duty to the public at large.

Anti-triad seminars target students

WESTERN District police organised a seminar last month for school headmasters and teachers in Western and Southern Districts to help prevent and combat juvenile crime and triad activities, especially at schools.
Opened by DC WDIST Barry Griffin, speakers at the seminar at the Police Officers' Club were SIP Au Wai-shuen, OC District Anti-Triad Squad, Western, Fu Tsun-hung, Assistant Social Work Officer (Southern), Yee Kwok-chun, Senior Inspector (Educational Counselling) Special Education, and Fung Hing-kau, Caritas Centre Outreach Social Work Team Leader.
Mr Au briefly discussed the crime figures for the first three quarters of this year related to teenagers under 18 in Western District, before elaborating on police strategies and co-operation with schools in combating such crimes.
Mr Fu discussed services provided by the Social Welfare Department to families and teenagers, while Miss Yee analysed the psychology of young adolescents, their needs, peer pressures and potential problems at home. She also briefed those present on many of the programmes the Education Department provides for schools to deal with juvenile problems. Mr Fung introduced Caritas' outreach services for teenagers.
After their presentations, DDC WDIST Ma Wai-luk presided over a discussion with the 40 participants from 19 schools who exchanged views and shared experiences.
Due to the enthusiastic response to the meeting, Western District police plan to organise similar seminars to open channels of communication between teachers, students and their families and develop methods in preventing juveniles' involvement in crimes and triad activities.