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 — 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.