An excellent Police Force and good public order have laid a solid foundation for the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong (HK), as well as maintaining the city's status as a global aviation hub and an international financial centre, Chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong Mr So Chak-kwong said when inspecting a passing-out parade of the Police College on September 23.

"Hong Kong is an externally-oriented economy. We always welcome people from around the world to come for business and tourism. Last year, the volume of inbound and outbound passengers of the city reached nearly 300 million. Hong Kong is also one of the safest cities in the world, which can be attributed to our robust legal system as well as our professional, highly efficient and modern Police Force," Mr So said.

He noted that the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is undergoing expansion in the light of the booming aviation industry. Last year, the international passenger volume of the HKIA exceeded 70 million, making it the world's third busiest airport. He opined that as terrorism shows signs of spreading in other parts of the world in recent years, airport security measures must be stepped up.

"I am aware that apart from the Counter Terrorism Response Unit and Airport Security Unit, the Force has established the Major Incident Bureau this year to strengthen the Force's training, organisation and strategy, and to enhance the response capability assessment of officers. Certainly, this will optimise the anti-terrorist efforts of the Force," he added.

Mr So explained that in this age of smart technology, the fast-changing world gives rise to various modus operandi of online crimes. He encouraged the graduates to seek continuous self-improvement in order to keep abreast of the times, and at the same time, continue to uphold impartiality, selflessness and integrity. He hoped that the graduates, despite the adversities ahead or even in the face of temptation and challenges, would remain determined in serving the society with pride and care, in order to safeguard the core values, prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

A total of 30 probationary inspectors (PIs) and 238 recruit police constables (RPCs) graduated on that day.