More officers paid study visits and attended training overseas and on Mainland recently, underscoring the Force's long-standing policy of providing opportunities for officers to develop their potential and gain more exposure.

Officers attend National Studies Programme in Shanghai

With the co-ordination made by Police College, 11 officers led by Yuen Long District Commander Fok Lok-sang joined 28 officers from Immigration Department, Fire Services Department, Correctional Services Department and Customs and Excise Department in attending the "National Studies Course for Hong Kong Disciplined Forces" at the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong in Shanghai from December 10 to 18.

The programme invited experts and scholars to deliver lectures on various topics for the participants to gain a better understanding of the developments in various fields on the Mainland. The academy also arranged visits to the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau and an aircraft corporation for the programme participants to get first hand information on national developments.

Officiating at the opening ceremony of the National Studies Course, Director of Personnel and Training Au Chi-kwong reminded the participants to get familiar with the police work on the Mainland, and equip themselves with a macroscopic mindset to take on the challenges ahead.

Mr Au later called on Mr Bai Shaokang, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau. He also visited the Shanghai Police College and exchanged views on co-operation in training. Both parties agreed to further consolidate bilateral police training.

Study visit to the Western Australia Police

With the arrangement made by Police College, a 10-member delegation, led by Chief Inspector (CIP) Tsang Nga-sze from Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau and comprising two Senior Inspectors, two Sergeants (SGTs) and five Police Constables (PCs), paid a study visit to the Western Australia Police (WA Police), acquiring valuable knowledge of the work of the WA Police and the socio-economic development of Western Australia.

The delegation also called at the WA Police Headquarters, Police Academy, Police Complex and local police stations and met the WA Police Commissioner, who personally introduced his new and improved policing model.

Through a comprehensive itinerary, the delegation members gained an overview of the Tactical Response Group, Police Air-Wing, Water Police, Mounted and Canine Operation, Police Media and Corporate Communications and Technology Crime Investigation Unit. WA Police officers also introduced their media strategies, initiatives to engage the community, telecommunications technology and facilities for public events, major incidents and crime prevention. Frontline officers also gave the members a better picture of the WA Police's work.

Training in the Netherlands

Also arranged by Police College, Superintendent Ip Che-man from Marine Headquarters and CIP Leung Kwok-wing from Crime New Territories South attended an overseas development-training programme, "Masterclass 2015", at the Police Academy of Netherlands in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, between November 4 and 13. The training brought together the police representatives from 11 countries and regions in Europe, South America and Asia for strengthening international co-operation and sharing policing experiences.

During the programme, other than lectures given by different experts, the participants exchanged views and successful police practices of a wide range of prevailing topics, including counter-terrorism, cyber crime, drugs trafficking and money laundering. The officers also visited the Police Training Centre, National Investigation Unit, football match Command and Control Centre and a local police station, and discussed with frontline commanders various policing issues such as police recruitment and training, intelligence-led criminal investigation, anti-riot and crowd management operation for a major football event, community policing and use of social media.

The training not only provided an effective platform for exchanging professional knowledge and experiences, but also facilitated establishment of an international network.

Officer attends training in Brisbane

Senior Superintendent Wong Kwong-hing from Service Standards Bureau attended a workshop on "Managing Regulation, Enforcement and Compliance" organised by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government from October 18 to 23.

The objectives of the workshop were to examine the distinctive strategic and the managerial challenges facing governments' regulatory, enforcement and risk-control functions, as well as the current practices for reform in public services and process improvement.

The workshop was conducted by Prof Malcolm Sparrow from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, who is a leading international expert in regulatory and enforcement strategy, security and risk control. Among the speakers was Mrs Christine Nixon, former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police. The workshop introduced how to effectively use budgets, analysis and authorisation for risk-control.

DIT officers visit Singapore

From November 24 to 27, CIP Cheung Pak-kit from Sham Shui Po District led a Force delegation of two Detective Inspectors, two Detective SGTs and 10 Detective PCs from District Investigation Teams (DIT) in paying a study visit to the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

The delegation visited the Research, Planning and Organisational Development Division at the Police Cantonment Complex and got a briefing on the structure of the SPF and the crime situation in Singapore. After the visit, the delegation called at various crime units, including Unlawful Money Lending Investigation Branch, Secret Society Investigation Branch and Specialised Crime Investigation Branch, to discuss their crime-fighting strategies. During the visit to a Land Division, the delegation members shared investigation experiences with frontline officers.