Security Bureau

In the past year, we have been working on 41 pledges, of which:

The following sets out the detailed report for each main programme area.

Maintaining Law and Order

Year Pledge Present Position
Action Completed
1996 1. To give further impetus to the Beat Drugs campaign by strengthening our ability to suppress drugs by improving the legislative framework. In 1996-97, we will introduce amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance to provide for heavier sentences for adults who exploit young persons in the illegal drug trade. The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill 1997 was passed by the Legislative Council on 19 March 1997. The legislation came into operation on 27 March 1997.
1996 2. To give further impetus to the Beat Drugs campaign by stepping up enforcement action. Customs and Excise Department will enhance enforcement of the licensing system for chemicals which can be used for manufacture of dangerous drugs by establishing Investigation and Intelligence Units with 22 additional staff in 1996-97. 22 additional staff posts were created in November 1996 to strengthen the Investigation and Intelligence Units of the Controlled Chemicals Group. The posts are being filled by phases.
1996 3. To give further impetus to the Beat Drugs campaign by stepping up enforcement action. The Department of Health will also increase the frequency of pharmacist inspections. Ten additional pharmacist posts have been created to increase the frequency of pharmacist inspections.
1996 4. To give further impetus to the Beat Drugs campaign by reducing demand for drugs through improvements in preventive education, publicity, drug treatment and rehabilitation services. We will assist the Education Department in hosting the International Conference on Drugs Education for Schools to be held in Hong Kong in February 1997. The International Conference on Drug Education in Schools was held on 18-19 February 1997 at the Hong Kong Science Museum. The Conference was attended by 250 participants.
1996 5. In 1997, to complete the conversion of a former camp for Vietnamese migrants at Lo Wu into a minimum-security prison with about 200 places. The conversion works were completed on schedule. The new Lo Wu Correctional Institution came into operation in August 1997.
1996 6. To ensure that our prison sentence review and remission system operates fairly and independently by introducing legislation in 1996-97 to establish the Board of Review, Long-term Prison Sentences (which is at present advisory) as a statutory body. The Long-term Prison Sentences Review Ordinance came into effect on 30 June 1997. A statutory Long-term Prison Sentences Review Board was subsequently set up.
1996 7. In mid-1997, to assess the results of a research project conducted by the City University of Hong Kong on the effectiveness of existing rehabilitation programmes for young offenders and possible ways to improve programmes provided by:

  • the Correctional Services Department in its detention centres, training centres and prisons; and

  • the Social Welfare Department in its probation, remand home, community support and aftercare services.
The research project was completed and the report was published and distributed to interested parties in August 1997.
1996 8. In early 1997, to consider the findings of a study conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong on youth gangs and runaways to identify ways of improving services for young people at risk. The research project was completed and the report was published and distributed to interested parties in August 1997. On the basis of the research recommendation, two youth mobile teams will be set up in October 1997 as a two-year pilot project to serve young night drifters.
1995 9. To reduce prison overcrowding through converting Chi Ma Wan Lower Detention Centre into a treatment centre for female drug addicts to provide an extra 250 places. The conversion works were completed, and the new Chi Ma Wan Drug Addiction Treatment Centre came on stream in December 1996.
1995 10. To continue helping ex-prisoners reintegrate into society by bringing into full operation in the coming year the Post-Release Supervision of Prisoners Ordinance enacted in June 1995. The Post-Release Supervision Board commenced operation in December 1996.
Action in Progress: On Schedule
1996 11. To enhance the credibility and transparency of the Police complaints system in 1996-97 by:
  • streamlining procedures, enhancing publicity and providing additional training for Complaints Against Police Office staff, as recommended by an independent review; and
  • strengthening the monitoring and review functions of the Independent Police Complaints Council, setting performance pledges on response time and providing more details to complaints as recommended by a comparative study of police complaints systems in other countries.
37 out of the 48 recommendations arising from the independent review and the comparative study of police complaints systems in other countries have been implemented by the end of September 1997.
1996 12. In 1998, to complete Phase I of the Stanley Prison redevelopment to provide 200 additional places. 500 additional places will be provided by 1999 under Phase II of the project. Redevelopment works under Phase I and Phase II were progressing according to plan.
1996 13. To plan the redevelopment of the Tai Lam Correctional Institution so as to provide 260 new places. The proposal was being processed in the Public Works Programme.
1996 14. To identify sites for new penal institutions to accommodate up to 3?00 additional places, and to take a decision on the way forward in early 1997. A site in North Lantau was found suitable. The Tsuen Wan District Board and the Islands District Board were consulted. The proposal was going through the Town Planning Board process.
1996 15. To further improve the management of penal institutions and thus relieve pressure on staff. A study to identify areas of improvement in manpower deployment is underway.
Action in Progress: Under Review
1996 16. To enhance the credibility and transparency of the Police complaints system in 1996-97 by enacting the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) Bill. In June 1997, the Administration withdrew the IPCC Bill from the Legislative Council due to passage of unacceptable Committee Stage Amendments which would severely disrupt the effective operation of the Police complaints system. The Administration will review whether, when and in what form the IPCC Bill will be re-introduced.
1995 17. To reorganise the top command structure of the Police Force to reflect more accurately the Police Force's present and future responsibilities. The Administration is preparing a re-submission to the Finance Committee Establishment Sub-committee to formalise the existing Police top command structure.
Action in Progress: A Pledge to Catch Up
1995 18. To provide additional resources for drug demand reduction by setting up two additional residential treatment centres for young opiate abusers. Renovation works have started for an additional residential treatment centre. A site for the permanent premises of the other additional residential treatment centre has been identified.
On-going Commitments
1996 19. To strengthen public confidence in the Police Force in 1997 by fostering a service culture through service quality projects, including providing better facilities and streamlining procedures in report rooms and in other areas of contact with the public. An independent Force-wide Customer Satisfaction Survey was conducted in March/April 1997. Commanders are studying findings of the survey and will be taking improvement measures to address the issues raised.

A full-time term consultant will be appointed to work with the Force on service quality issues in September 1997. A major part of the consultant's job will be developing best practices in the report room and other areas of public interface in a Police station selected as a pilot for this project. The Force has set up a Steering Group to oversee the project. Best practices identified will subsequently be rolled-out for Force-wide implementation later in 1998.

1996 20. To strengthen public confidence in the Police Force in 1997 by formulating and publicising the Police Force's own clearly defined organisational objectives. The Force Vision and Statement of Common Purpose and Values was launched on 7 December 1996. This was followed by a Force-wide "Living-the-Values" programme with each of the 39 000 members of the Force attending a seminar focusing on organisational values.
1996 21. To strengthen public confidence in the Police Force in 1997 by developing and implementing a Force Anti-Corruption Strategy, including the promulgation of a code of ethics, promotion of the concept of a healthy lifestyle among police officers and stepping up anti-corruption education and liaison with the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). A Steering Committee comprising a cross-section of senior Police officers and representatives of the ICAC has been set up to identify and address those areas of Police activity which present opportunities for corruption or cause susceptibility to corruption.

A statement of integrity and professional conduct has been developed as the code of ethics and incorporated into the Force's Vision and Statement of Common Purpose and Values. Professional ethics and shared values are promoted through the Force Anti-Corruption Strategy and the "Living-the-Values" campaign.



Controlling Immigration

Year Pledge Present Position
Action Completed
1996 1. To complete the processing of all applications for naturalisation as a British Dependent Territory Citizen (BDTC) by the end of 1996 and complete by March 1997 the issue of British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passports to most BDTC applicants. The Immigration Department will hand over the BN(O) passport issuing function to the British Trade Commission (BTC) in April 1997. The processing of naturalisation applications has been completed. Immigration Department has transferred the BN(O) passport issuing function to the BTC (now British Consulate General) in April 1997.
1996 2. To complete all the necessary arrangements to ensure the timely issue of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports in July 1997. By then, we will have:

  • developed a computer system for the issue of the HKSAR passport;

  • decided eligibility assessment procedures;

  • designed and produced the relevant application forms; and

  • made proper arrangements for the secure collection and distribution of HKSAR passports.
Preparation work for issue of HKSAR passports was completed by June 1997. The Immigration Department has issued HKSAR passports since 3 July 1997.
1995 3. To step up enforcement action against illegal employment by considering requiring all contract workers, including foreign domestic helpers, to surrender their identity cards to the Immigration Department for cancellation on their departure at the end of their contracts. By 30 September 1997 we have finalised the proposal on the amendment to Registration of Persons Regulations to empower registration officers to retrieve identity cards of contract workers upon departure or for replacement by ' - prefix identity cards.
Action in Progress: On Schedule
1996 4. In 1997-98, to consider measures to speed up immigration clearance of passengers by extending consultancy studies to crossing points other than the Airport to improve efficiency. The consultancy study on the harbour control points has commenced on 1 September 1997.
1996 5. In 1997-98, to consider measures to speed up immigration clearance of passengers by examining the feasibility of issuing travel passes to frequent travellers. The study has been completed. We plan to implement a travel pass pilot scheme and the APEC Business Travel Card scheme in 1998.
1996 6. To study ways to maximise the capacity of immigration clearance at Chek Lap Kok Airport and provide sufficient staff to handle increases in passenger volume after the Airport's opening. 178 additional staff have been provided for in the 1997-98 Budget.
On-going Commitment
1994 7. To repatriate all Vietnamese migrants (VMs) as soon as possible. 10 089 VMs and 1 597 Vietnamese illegal immigrants (VIIs) have been repatriated since 1 October 1996. As at 31 August 1997, the VM/VII population in Hong Kong is 1 801. We remain committed to repatriating the remaining VMs and VIIs as soon as possible.


Fire-fighting and Rescue Services

Year Pledge Present Position
Action Completed
1996 1. In 1997-98, to develop, together with the Airport Authority, first-class fire-fighting and rescue services for the new airport at Chek Lap Kok. A new fire station to cover the new airport's buildings and facilities has been completed, and posts have been created to facilitate training of fire- fighting and rescue services in respect of aircraft incidents.
1996 2. In 1997-98, to improve fire safety measures in older commercial premises by implementing the provisions of the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Bill, which requires the upgrading of fire services installations in such buildings. The Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance came into operation in May 1997.
1996 3. To commission a new fire station in Tung Chung in mid-1997 to improve service in that area. The new fire station in Tung Chung was commissioned in May 1997.
1996 4. In light of the Pat Sin Leng hillfire inquiry, to ensure that future emergencies in remote areas are better co-ordinated. The recommendations made by the hillfire inquiry have been implemented.
1996 5. This is pledgeIn 1997-98, to ensure that Hong Kong's aviation security standards match other world-class airports by implementing the Aviation Security Programme. This will provide a clear legal framework for Hong Kong to discharge its international civil aviation security obligations. Implementation of the Aviation Security Programme is now a well established and on-going exercise.
Action in Progress: On Schedule
1995 6. To improve our fire-fighting capabilities in new towns by providing the Fire Services Department with an additional 66 posts to reinforce the staff at existing fire stations. By the end of September 1997, 58 posts have been created. The recruitment exercise for the remaining posts is in progress.
1995 7. To provide a total of 161 posts for two new fire stations (one with ambulance facilities) which will begin operation in 1996-97. By the end of September 1997, 149 posts have been created. The recruitment exercise for the remaining posts is in progress.


Preparing for the Transition

Year Pledge Present Position
Action Completed
1996 1. To strengthen contacts with Mainland defence experts to familiarise them with the environment under which the military operates in Hong Kong, so that suitable arrangements can be worked out for the interface between the Government and the future People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison. The advance personnel of the PLA Garrison visited various policy branches and departments before 1 July 1997.
1996 2. To continue to exchange views with the Mainland on the future legal framework under which the PLA and their personnel will operate in the HKSAR in line with the commitments made under the Joint Declaration and Basic Law. The Garrison Law was applied to the HKSAR in accordance with Article 18 of the Basic Law on 1 July 1997.
1996 3. To ensure that 14 military sites and four reprovisioning projects are handed over to the PLA on 1獱uly 1997 in accordance with the Defence Lands Agreement reached in June 1994. The 14 military sites and the four reprovisioning projects were formally handed over to the Garrison on 1 July 1997.
1996 4. To seek the agreement of the Central People's Government to localise legislation on the transfer of sentenced persons and negotiate new bilateral agreements with key countries so that existing transfer arrangements can continue beyond 1997. The Transfer of Sentenced Persons Ordinance came into operation on 6 June 1997. A new bilateral agreement has been signed with the United States. Negotiations with other key countries for new bilateral agreements are in progress.
1996 5. To introduce legislative amendments necessary to ensure compatibility of the Immigration Ordinance with the Basic Law. The Immigration Ordinance has been amended to reflect relevant provisions of the Basic Law in detail.
1995 6. To negotiate a network of new bilateral agreements which will remain in force after 1997; and to introduce legislation to bring the new agreements into force as soon as possible. Surrender of Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Agreements have been signed with eight and three countries respectively. Negotiations with other approved negotiating partners are in progress. The Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance were passed by the Legislative Council.


Progress Report