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Police History: Changes to the Policing Model and the Return of Sovereignty 1994-99
As the nature of Hong Kong society changed, the police force also changed with it, moving away from a para-military policing model to become a service orientated modern force, determined to engage the public in crime prevention, and remaining open and accountable for its actions. This change did not happen overnight; cultures take time to adjust. The professionalism of the serving officers, coupled with continued recruitment of motivated officers with higher academic standards, and introduction of information technology, enabled the Force to move forward and meet the rising expectations of the Hong Kong public. This impetus has been maintained, and the Force is committed to seeking continuous improvement to meet the challenges of an ever-changing future.
Without doubt, the major change of the 1990s was the return of the sovereignty of Hong Kong to the Motherland in 1997. As one of the largest, and obviously the most visible, government departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Force played a vital role in ensuring the continuity of the rule of law under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle. The Force played a prominent role in the Handover celebrations and has continued to perform the solemn flag raising ceremonial duties to this day. Proud of its past, and confident in its future, the Force dropped its “Royal” title and looked forward to the new millennium.
