Marine Region

Updated on Dec 29, 2023

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Active 1846-Now Branch Hong Kong Police Force Size 2,424 officers		Country Hong Kong Type Water police

Role Sea and islands policing, anti-smuggling and illegal immigration

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Fleet

Marine craft

BSC Marine Group patrol vessels

Protector (Pacific Forum) class – 6 small patrol boats

Hong Kong Shipyards Sea Panther-class large command boat 1988 – 2 large command boats

replaced Hong Kong United Dockyard Sea Lion class command boats 1965 – 2 (retired 1993)

Damen Stan Mk I patrol boats 1980–1981 – 10 built by Chung Wah Shipyard 1990s

Damen Stan Mk III patrol boats 1984–1985 – 16 built by Chung Wah Shipyard 1990s

Damen Stan 2600 patrol boats

HamiltonJet 13m Aluminium patrol boats

ASC Keka Class 30-metre patrol launches 2000 – six built by Cheoy Lee Shipyard

replaced six Damen Class Mk1 patrol launches

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 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)

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

References

Marine Region Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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