Radar scan: The media get a walk-through tour of the Marine Regional Headquarters on the day of the review

That's the message of Marine Regional Commander Foo Tsun-kong who delivered his annual review to the media on January 25.

Mr Foo said continuing modernisation of the Police fleet would help meet the challenges of the new millennium, such as the recent $8.9 million upgrade to navigational equipment in 14 patrol launches and the delivery of five high-speed interceptors in November capable of up to 60 knots for more effective anti-smuggling operations.

Six new inshore patrol craft were due for delivery this year and the approval was also recently given for $24.43 million to replace three water jet boats which patrol Deep Water Bay with two dumb lighters and six high-speed interceptors set for delivery in October next year.

"The lighters, with the aid of sophisticated surveillance equipment, will act as a command and search platform to direct smaller Police craft to intercept suspicious vessels," Mr Foo said. Analogue radio systems will be replaced by digital technology from June to August.

Mr Foo said 1999 saw a continued decrease in the number of illegal immigrants arrested in the Region, dropping to 729 from over 1,000 in 1997. There were 34 cases involving 36 people arrested for aiding and abetting IIs, and a crime detection rate of 52.9 per cent was recorded with burglaries and thefts topping the list.

Some 420 people were arrested for smuggling and $72.9 million in goods were seized. There was a decrease in the amount of illicit oil and VCDs seized, however, there was an increase in the number of high-speed smuggling vessels and left-hand-drive vehicles confiscated.