Marine Region

The Marine Region is a branch of the Hong Kong Police Force, more widely known as the Marine Police. The marine police patrol 1,651 km2 (637 sq mi) of waters within the territory of Hong Kong, including 263 islands. The Marine Region with about 3,000 officers, and a fleet of 142 in total, made up of 70 launches and 72 craft is the largest of any civil police force.[7][8][9]

Marine Region
HK Marine Police Flag[5][6]
Common nameMarine Police
Agency overview
Formed1846
Employees2,424 officers
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionHong Kong
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Coastal patrol, marine border protection, marine search and rescue.
Operational structure
Parent agencyHong Kong Police Force

Overview

The Marine Region involves about 3,000 officers policing some 13,000 local craft and a total maritime population of 14,100. In addition to normal marine policing functions, the marine police are also responsible for countering illegal immigration and smuggling at sea.[10]

To undertake this work, the Marine Region additionally mount shore patrol to police the smaller islands and isolated communities with no land transport to other parts of the territory, and participate in the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, which is responsible for co-ordinating maritime rescue operations both within and outside Hong Kong waters. The region's headquarters are located at Sai Wan Ho.[10]

Since 2007, the Marine Region has developed a new, two-part operational strategy called Versatile Maritime Policing Response (VMPR) which has come into operation in phases, providing an improved police service at reduced cost with an enhanced Command and Control System and faster craft offering a more flexible policing response.

Organisation

The Marine Region comprises a Regional Headquarters and two sea Districts. The entire region is commanded by a Regional Commander with the rank of Assistant Commissioner, who is assisted by a Chief Superintendent. Each of the three bureaux is commanded by a Senior Superintendent; divisions and units are commanded by Superintendents, who are assisted by Chief Inspectors.[11]

The Region comprises:

  • Operations Bureau is responsible for all operational matters at Regional level, including:
    • Operations Division
      • Regional Crime Units investigating crimes and syndicated illegal immigration by sea;
      • RCCC;
      • Logistics Unit;
      • Regional Motor Transport Office;
      • Regional Armoury;
    • Small Boat Division.
    • Crime Marine
  • Administration Bureau is responsible for general administration; personnel and establishment matters.
  • Support Bureau is responsible for:
    • management of the launch acquisition programmes;
    • training and assessment of Marine police personnel in navigation, seamanship, engineering, and safety; and
    • selection and acquisition of specialist equipment.
    • core property strategy in Marine Region

Headquarters
Former Marine Police station after renovation
Sai Wan Ho Marine Police Regional Headquarters.

The Marine Region had its headquarters at the Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound in Tsim Sha Tsui till 1996, when they were relocated to Sai Wan Ho. The old headquarters have now become a heritage tourism facility known as 1881 Heritage.

  • Sai Wan Ho Marine Police Regional Headquarters.
  • Marine Police North Division.
  • Marine Police North Division.
  • Marine Police North Division.
  • Marine Police East Division.
  • Kat O Police Post.

Fleet

Marine craft

Historic
  • 22’ Police Launch 1970 – 11
  • 30’ Fairey Marine Spear Class patrol boat 1981 – 9
  • 40’ Jetstream Class patrol craft 1971 – 3
  • 45’ converted tugs pre-1995 – 8
  • 45’ converted tugs pre-1975 – 2
  • Islander Class patrol craft 1960 – 1
  • Hong Kong United Dockyard Sea Rover Class patrol craft 1955 – 6
  • Pacific Forum Class Patrol boat 1993 – 6
  • 78’ Vosper Thornycroft coastal patrol craft 1972–73 – 7 (retired 1993)

[14]

Firearms
  • Smith & Wesson Model 10- Standard issue sidearm for Marine Region (except Small Boat Division), 6 shot .38 revolver.
  • Glock 17- Standard issue pistol for Small Boat Division, loaded with 17 round of 9mm Parabellum magazines
  • Federal Model 201-Z Riot Gun – Standard issue anti-riot gun, loaded with less-than-lethal CS rounds.
  • Heckler & Koch MP5- Standard issue SMG, loaded with 30 round of 9mm Parabellum magazines

History

The Hong Kong 'Water Police' had a role from the earliest days of British Hong Kong. The first actual vessel was acquired in 1846 - a sailing 'gun-boat' with a crew of 17, which was used for anti-piracy work. The vessel and its entire crew were lost in a typhoon two years later. By then the unit consisted of approximately 40 men and three boats. Each Constable in a six-man crew was armed with a pistol and a cutlass.[15]

After World War II, as part of a major reshaping of the police force, the service was renamed 'Marine Police'.[15]

See also

References
  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20120419013333/http://www.fotw.net/images/h/hk~wpol.gif
  2. http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/FB2D3FD8A4E2A3264825647C0030A9E1/9E8E43C0BCFA90C0C82564830029EC79?OpenDocument
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20120419013333/http://www.fotw.net/images/h/hk~wpol.gif
  4. http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/FB2D3FD8A4E2A3264825647C0030A9E1/9E8E43C0BCFA90C0C82564830029EC79?OpenDocument
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20120419013333/http://www.fotw.net/images/h/hk~wpol.gif
  6. http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/FB2D3FD8A4E2A3264825647C0030A9E1/9E8E43C0BCFA90C0C82564830029EC79?OpenDocument
  7. Police History: Overview – The Future
  8. 香港警務處－警隊歷史 Archived 18 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. 水警總區
  10. "The Police" (PDF). Hong Kong: The Facts. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. July 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  11. "Marine Region". HKPF. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  12. "Patrol Boats". HamiltonJet. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  13. "Hong Kong (Hong Kong), The market – Australasia and East Asia". Janes. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  14. http://oceania.pbworks.com/w/page/8462402/Hong-Kong-Navy
  15. The History of Marine Region, HK Police
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