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The duties of the disbanded police special branch remained a mystery yesterday, despite questioning from provisional legislators.

 Members of the security panel grilled officials in an effort to discover which unit was now responsible for intelligence work.

 Police told the panel they wanted to create 11 new jobs at the top of the police command structure and scrap 15 existing positions.

 The special branch was originally made up of the intelligence wing and security wing. The former was disbanded in July 1995, while the latter came under the control of the director of crime and security.

 Ambrose Lau Hon-chuen of the Hong Kong Progressive Alliance asked whether security had been damaged by the scrapping of the intelligence wing.

 'Hong Kong is an international trading centre. Many intelligence organisations and officers may have activities here which may affect the safety of Hong Kong people,' he said.

 Lau Kong-wah of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong said the administration had the responsibility to explain the duties of the security wing after the restructuring.

 But Deputy Commissioner of Police Tsang Yam-pui refused to answer the questions, because of the matter's 'sensitivity'.

 He said the police establishment and duties review committee's studies were satisfied the security wing could meet the SAR's security needs. Mr Tsang said a closed-door briefing could be held for provisional legislators if necessary.

 Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee said the issue had remained a grey area since the restructuring in 1995.

 'There were some questions which got nowhere. The 42 reports done by the review committee and given to the legislature left out the one on the security wing,' Mrs Chow said.

 Mr Tsang said the security wing, set up in 1992, had 429 officers, including 86 clerical staff. Its duties including protection of VIPs, anti-terrorism programmes and co-ordination of security work.



Special branch keeps secrets