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]
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]
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.
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.[11]
After World War II, as part of a major reshaping of the police force, the service was renamed 'Marine Police'.[11] During the 1966 Star Ferry riots, the Marine Police provided a riot company which was deployed in action on Nathan Road.[12] 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.[12]
BSC Marine Group patrol vessels
Hong Kong Shipyards Sea Panther-class large command boat 1988 – 2 large command boats
Damen Stan Mk I patrol boats 1980–1981 – 10 built by Chung Wah Shipyard 1990s
HamiltonJet 13m Aluminium patrol boats[8]
![Marine Police supervises the dragonboat races in Shing Mun River Channel, Sha Tin. [dubious – discuss]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coming_about.jpg)
