DCP OPS Lau Yuk-kuen and HK delegates inspect SPF equipment

A delegation led by Deputy Commissioner Operations Lau Yuk-kuen recently returned from a visit to the Royal Thai Police and the Singapore Police Force between September 9 and 15.

Other members of the delegation included Assistant Commissioner Security Tang Hau-sing, Mong Kok District Commander Fok Man-kwan, Chief Superintendent of the Criminal Intelligence Bureau Lau Chi-keung, Superintendent Intelligence of the Narcotics Bureau Tsang Ka-kin and Chief Inspector Training of the Police Tactical Unit Headquarters Martin Cadman.

The purpose of the visit was to enhance contact at functioning level, open channels for co-operation, discuss transnational crime, consider 'use of force' options available in the two countries, study the different approaches to policing major events and to examine the applications of technology. The diversity of representation among delegates reflected each of these aims with each officer able to contribute not only to the trip as a whole but also to examine his own area of specialisation in more detail.

Whilst in Thailand the delegation met two Deputy Commissioner Generals, Police Generals Sant Sarutanond and Soontorn Saikwan along with other senior officers. A forum and discussions were held with them on a wide variety of matters including transnational crime and the handling of large conferences which may attract protestors. The delegation also paid a visit to the Department of International Organisations within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where discussions were held regarding co-operation between Thailand and Hong Kong regarding a number of areas of mutual concern.

On the first full day in Singapore the delegation met Commissioner Khoo Boon-hui and senior officers from all SPF departments at their headquarters located in New Phoenix Park, which was officially opened only a few weeks before the delegation arrived. Mr Lau had the honour of leading the first delegation to use the new VIP Reception Room. On another visit the delegation also had the privilege of being the first group of visitors to use the new indoor firing range, which had only been officially taken over that morning.

Other events on the itinerary included a visit to Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, where the delegation met six sergeants from Hong Kong attending a SPF course, a briefing by the Police Technology Division which included a futuristic vision of the SPF in the year 2010, and a visit to the Special Operations Command (SOC). The SOC staged a display by its Dog Unit, displayed its anti-riot equipment and demonstrated one of its water cannons to the delegation. Discussions were also held relating to security arrangements for the first Forbes Global CEO Conference, scheduled to be held in Singapore between September 19-20. The second such conference is planned to be held in Hong Kong in September 2002.

Not only were delegation members able to avail themselves of the opportunity to examine equipment used and tactics employed in both Thailand and Singapore throughout the visit, they were also able to establish good relations with counterparts in both countries.

In the words of one of the hosts: "It is these contact visits which will provide the most powerful weapon available to the police in the fight against increasingly globalised and sophisticated crime syndicates."



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