Hong Kong Marine Police
Encyclopedia
The Marine Region is a branch of the Hong Kong Police Force
, more widely known as the Marine Police. The marine police patrol 1651 km² (637.5 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.
and smuggling
at sea.
In order 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
.
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.
The Region comprises:
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.
- 6 small patrol boats Hong Kong Shipyards Sea Panther class 1988 - 2 large command boats
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force is the largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. It is the world's second, and Asia's first, police agency to operate with a modern policing system. It was formed on 1 May 1844, with a strength of 32 officers...
, more widely known as the Marine Police. The marine police patrol 1651 km² (637.5 sq mi) of waters within the territory of Hong Kong
Geography of Hong Kong
The geography of Hong Kong primarily consists of three main territories: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories.The name "Hong Kong", literally meaning "fragrant harbour", is derived from the area around present-day Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island, where fragrant wood products...
, 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.
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 immigrationIllegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
and smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
at sea.
In order to undertake this work, the Marine Region additionally mount shore patrol
Shore patrol
Shore patrol are service members that are provided to aid in security for the U.S. Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, and the British Royal Navy while on shore...
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
Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre
The Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre is responsible for coordinating air-sea rescue in Hong Kong and an extensive area of the South China Sea...
, 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
Sai Wan Ho
Sai Wan Ho is a primarily residential area on the northeastern shore of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, between Quarry Bay and Shau Kei Wan. It is part of the Eastern District, and is administered together with surrounding areas under the Eastern District Council.-Location:Sai Wan Ho is conventionally...
.
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 Region comprises:
- Operations Formation is responsible for all operational matters at Regional level, including:
- Regional Crime Units investigating crimes and syndicated illegal immigration by sea;
- RCCC;
- Logistics Unit;
- Small Boat Division.
- Administration Formation is responsible for general administration; personnel and establishment matters.
- Support Formation 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 Headquarters Compound
The Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound , constructed in 1884, is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The site is now officially renamed as 1881 Heritage....
in Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui , often abbreviated as TST, is an urbanized area in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is administratively part of the Yau Tsim Mong District. Tsim Sha Tsui East is a piece of land reclaimed from the Hung Hom Bay now east of Tsim Sha Tsui...
till 1996, when they were relocated to Sai Wan Ho
Sai Wan Ho
Sai Wan Ho is a primarily residential area on the northeastern shore of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, between Quarry Bay and Shau Kei Wan. It is part of the Eastern District, and is administered together with surrounding areas under the Eastern District Council.-Location:Sai Wan Ho is conventionally...
. The old headquarters have now become a heritage tourism facility known as 1881 Heritage.
Fleet
Marine craft BSC Marine Group patrol vessels Protector (Pacific Forum) classProtector (Pacific Forum) class small patrol boat
Protector class small patrol boats are vessels built and used by the Hong Kong Police for marine patrols off Hong Kong. They are based on the Pacific class patrol boat built in Australia for several Pacific island nations...
- 6 small patrol boats Hong Kong Shipyards Sea Panther class 1988 - 2 large command boats
-
- replaced Hong Kong United DockyardHong Kong United DockyardHong Kong United Dockyard or simply United Dockyard is a dockyard in Shek Wan, on the Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong. HUD was formed in 1973 from the merger of Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock and Taikoo Dockyard . It is jointed owned by Hutchison Whampoa and Swire...
Sea Lion class command boats 1965 – 2 (retired 1993) DamenDamen GroupDamen is a Dutch shipbuilding company which was founded in 1927 by Jan and Marinus Damen in a self-built workshop. In 1954 their 200th ship was delivered.-History:...
Stan Mk I patrol boats 1980-1981 - 10 built by Chung Wah Shipyard 1990s DamenDamen GroupDamen is a Dutch shipbuilding company which was founded in 1927 by Jan and Marinus Damen in a self-built workshop. In 1954 their 200th ship was delivered.-History:...
Stan Mk III patrol boats 1984-1985 - 16 built by Chung Wah Shipyard 1990s DamenDamen GroupDamen is a Dutch shipbuilding company which was founded in 1927 by Jan and Marinus Damen in a self-built workshop. In 1954 their 200th ship was delivered.-History:...
Stan 2600 patrol boats HamiltonJet 13m Aluminium patrol boats ASCAustralian Submarine CorporationThe ASC, formerly Australian Submarine Corporation, is a wholly government-owned Australian naval defence company headquartered at Osborne in Adelaide, South Australia.-History:...
Keka ClassKeka class patrol boatKeka class patrol boats are vessels designed by ASC Pty. Ltd. originally for the Royal Thai Navy...
30 metre patrol launches 2000 - six built by Cheoy Lee Shipyard - replaced six Damen Class Mk1 patrol launches
- replaced Hong Kong United Dockyard
- Rigid inflatable hull vessels
- Tai Fei - fast patrol vessels
- speed boats
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 DockyardHong Kong United DockyardHong Kong United Dockyard or simply United Dockyard is a dockyard in Shek Wan, on the Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong. HUD was formed in 1973 from the merger of Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock and Taikoo Dockyard . It is jointed owned by Hutchison Whampoa and Swire...
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)
See also
- Special Duties UnitSpecial Duties UnitThe Special Duties Unit is an elite paramilitary tactical unit of the Hong Kong Police Force. Established in July 1974, it is a sub-division of the Police Tactical Unit...
- Marine Department (Hong Kong)
- Fire Services Department
- Customs and Excise Department (Hong Kong)
- Immigration DepartmentImmigration DepartmentThe Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. After the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty of the territory in July 1997, Hong Kong's immigration system remained largely unchanged from its British predecessor model...
- Government Flying Service
- Water policeWater policeWater police, also called harbour patrols, port police, marine/maritime police, nautical patrols, bay constables or river police, are police officers, usually a department of a larger police organisation, who patrol in water craft...
- Coast GuardCoast guardA coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...