DEAR SIR,
¡@¡@I refer to your letter concerning an article
from a reader who suggested to insert a blank page (that
is, a fourth copy) to the existing triplicate copies of
the Pol. 525 and Pol. 570 Fix-Penalty-Tickets for the
purpose of making notes. The author also put forward the
same issue to the Police Staff Suggestions Scheme.
The content, layout and format of the Pol. 525 and Pol.
570 FPTs are prescribed in law and provide relevant
details of the traffic contravention and offence to be
recorded by the enforcement officer. After having issued
the ticket, the enforcement officer shall, in accordance
with paragraph 8 of Chapter 53-03 (Police Notebooks) of
FPM, make original entries in his notebook of the incident
at the time to which it relates or as soon as practicable
thereafter while the facts are still fresh in his memory.
This requirement not only provides a valuable evidential
tool, but can also protect an officer from false or
malicious complaints made against him. The insertion of an
additional blank page to each ticket may make the booklet
more bulky and clumsy to be carried.
While I appreciate the author's suggestion, I should be
most grateful if you would publish my comment in the
letters column of OFFBEAT and advise him that his
suggestion is not feasible and the practice of making notes
on a piece of paper or at the back of the duplicate or
triplicate copy of the ticket and transcribing them
thereafter into the notebook should cease forthwith.
Hou Koon-wing, for CSP Traffic
DEAR SIR,
¡@¡@I have recently seen a circular asking for
nominations for a "Colours Party" to be deployed during
the handover ceremonies. Whilst I can appreciate the need
for the participants of the said party to be smart and of
a similar height for appearances sake, I cannot see the
justification for three of the criteria which have been
adopted.
These are: Sex - Only male officers are to be used. This
will do little for the morale of female officers who are
playing an increasingly greater and more equal part in the
Force. If female officers are required to carry firearms
and join PTU training then why are they considered
unsuitable to join a colours party? Surely it can't be just
that a skirt does not match the "uniform" appearance of
other (male) officers wearing trousers. If that is the
case then why not have a colours party composed entirely
of female officers?
Rank - Only IP/SIP are to be used. From a distance all
officers will have a similar appearance in uniform so this
can not be a valid excuse to limit participants by rank.
Everyone knows from parades at PTU and PTS that the
best and smartest "Marchers" are JPOs anyway.
Race - Only local officers are to be used. The colour of
one's skin cannot be a justifiable excuse to create a
"uniform" appearance. This does not reflect the true nature
of the racial composition of the Force nor that of Hong
Kong. We live in a cosmopolitan city and our multi-racial
Police Force should be an advertisement for Hong Kong, not
something to be hidden.
The handover will be an historic, never to be repeated
event not just for Hong Kong but for the whole world and
for a few weeks Hong Kong will be in the news in every
country in the world. Within a few parameters and subject
to ability every member of the Force should be allowed an
equal opportunity to become a member of this Colours Party
which will surely be at the fore-front of all handover
news.
Martin Cadman,Chairman, Expatriate Inspectors' Association
DEAR SIR,
¡@¡@Under the existing Government policy, an
officer is not eligible for civil service housing benefits
including departmental quarters if he and/or his spouse
is an owner or an authorised occupant of a flat sold under
the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) which is subject to a
resale restriction. Legally, resale restriction of a HOS
flat will only be lifted after the restriction period for
resale has expired and the land premium is paid.
I realise that in the past a few of my staff once
misunderstood that a HOS flat was no longer subject to
resale restriction after the restriction period for resale
had expired. Consequently, some Force members were misled
by their inaccurate advice for which I sincerely apologize.
This situation has been rectified and all staff members
of my division are now fully conversant with the correct
interpretation of the policy that will deter recurrence
of misguidance. They are also reminded of the importance
to go about their duties in a tactful and courteous manner
at all times.
Cheung Kam-chuen,SP Quarters
DEAR SIR,
¡@¡@We came to Hong Kong on a police exchange
visit from August 1991 to 1993 (Swap Cops). From the very
first day we were given fantastic support from the RHKP
and the wonderful people who help to make it a first class
police force. We had the best two years of our lives, you
gave us a great adventure into history, culture and foods,
and every day that passes we think of our good friends and
times in Hong Kong.
Now another piece of history is about to fall into the
record books and we want to wish you all, much happiness
in the future, good luck, and to say to you all: Thank you
for giving us some happy memories for the rest of our
lives.
Patsy and Mike Wray,
DEAR SIR,
¡@¡@I write on behalf of my whole family to
express our collective gratitude to the officers who
secured the release of my wife (Chan Miu-yuk, Angela) from
the hands of her kidnappers.
We would commend to you the officers of RCU 2A NTS,
RCU 1,2,3, RATU & RIU, along with others, who were
instrumental in the safe return of my wife within a short
period of time.
In particular we would commend Sheung Chi-hok, a CID
officer stationed at Sham Shui Po. We have known this
officer as a family friend for a number of years.
When they realised my wife was in very great danger they
acted with the speed and decisiveness of the total
professional, they delivered the ransom money the
kidnappers had demanded without fear of the risks they
would be exposing themselves to.
It could have been so very much worse and we thank you,
Commissioner and these officers for their bravery and
their dedication to duty. They are all very much a credit
to the Royal Hong Kong Police Force.
Sincerely yours,
DEAR SIR,
Allocation of JPO married quarters is
normally based on a point system and overseen by a Quarters
Allocation Committee (QAC) which comprises a
representative from the Junior Police Officers'
Association. This procedure also applies to the quarters
at Ngau Chi Wan Disciplined Services Married Quarters.
There, 268 households affected by the disposal of Canton
Road Police Married Quarters were given 48 directional
points which put them in a more competitive position in
applying for new quarters through open allocation. Among
them, 252 have already been allocated new quarters by
using their enhanced quartering points.
For those who were unable to secure new quarters as their
choices confined to high grade quarters for which the
demand was extremely strong, comparable replacement
quarters have been offered to them to cater for their
housing needs. This arrangement which conforms to the
existing policy is to ensure that the interests of both the
affected occupants and all other eligible officers for
JPO married quarters are well looked after.
The Force management appreciate that quarters benefit is
an important employment benefit and are therefore
determined to make every possible effort which includes
regular review of the quartering policies to ensure a fair
system in place.
Cheung Kam-chuen,
DEAR SIR,
¡@¡@I am a policeman based in Birmingham,
England. I came over to Hong Kong four years ago and stayed
at the Police Training School for two weeks. I was shown
various departments within the Hong Kong Police Force and
met a number of very good colleagues.
I would like to invite RHKP personnel who may be in the
UK on 1 July to a very big ceremony in Birmingham's
Chinatown to commemorate the handover of Hong Kong to
China.
The ceremony will begin with lion dances, fireworks, then
a march past of the Police Mounted Branch, followed by the
Staffordshire Regiment which has recently returned from
duty in Hong Kong. They were given the name "The Dragon
Regiment" by Hong Kong officials.
The parade will finish in the Arcadian Centre, Chinatown,
for a full afternoon of festivities.
There will be an official dinner.
Everyone is welcome to the festivities.
We wish you all well, and the best for your own
festivities in Hong Kong.
Police Constable Colin Higgins,
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