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Marine Region

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Marine Region
Common nameMarine Police
Agency overview
Formed1846; 178 years ago (1846)
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

The Marine Region is a branch of the Hong Kong Police Force, more widely known as the Marine Police. The marine police patrols 1,651 km2 (637 sq mi) of waters within the territory of Hong Kong, including 263 islands. The Marine Region is made up of about 3,000 officers. It has a fleet of 142 boats in total, the largest of any civil police force in the world.[3][4][5]

Overview

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The Marine Region comprises approximately 3,000 officers overseeing around 13,000 local craft and a total maritime population of 14,100. In addition to normal marine policing functions, the marine police is also responsible for countering illegal immigration and smuggling at sea.[6]

The Marine Region usually mounts shore patrol to police the smaller islands and isolated communities with no land transport to other parts of the Hong Kong, and participates 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.[6]

Organisation

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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 bureaus is commanded by a Senior Superintendent; divisions and units are commanded by Superintendents, who are assisted by Chief Inspectors.[7]

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

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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 until 1996, when they were relocated to Sai Wan Ho. The old headquarters have now become a heritage tourism facility known as 1881 Heritage.

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

Fleet

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Marine craft

Historic

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[10]

Firearms

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  • 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
  • SIG 516 - Standard issue assault rifle for Small Boat Division. Loaded with 30 rounds of 5.56×45mm NATO magazines.

Fallen Officers

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A plague listing at the Marine Police regional headquarters listing all line of duty deaths in the marine police

As of 2024, 3 marine police officers have been killed in the line of duty.[11]

History

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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.[12]

After World War II, as part of a major reshaping of the police force, the service was renamed 'Marine Police'.[12] During the 1966 Star Ferry riots, the Marine Police provided a riot company which was deployed in action on Nathan Road.[13] As part of the response to the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, the Marine Police participated in Operation Tiderider aimed at quelling the ensuing riots.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Archived copy". fotw.net. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Hong Kong e-Legislation".
  3. ^ "Chapter 1 History – The First Century | Hong Kong Police Force". www.police.gov.hk.
  4. ^ "香港警務處－警隊歷史". Archived from the original on 18 March 2009.
  5. ^ 水警總區
  6. ^ a b "The Police" (PDF). Hong Kong: The Facts. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. July 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  7. ^ "Marine Region". HKPF. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Patrol Boats". HamiltonJet. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  9. ^ "Hong Kong (Hong Kong), The market – Australasia and East Asia". Janes. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  10. ^ "Oceania / Hong Kong Navy".
  11. ^ Marine Police Headquarters list of line of duty deaths plague. 16 December 2024.
  12. ^ a b The History of Marine Region, HK Police
  13. ^ a b "Chronology of Notable Occasions and Events | Marine | Hong Kong Police Force". www.police.gov.hk. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
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