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]
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 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
Former Marine Police station after renovationSai Wan Ho Marine Police Regional Headquarters.
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
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
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]
![Marine Police supervises the dragonboat races in Shing Mun River Channel, Sha Tin. [dubious – discuss]](File:Coming_about.jpg)
