Eleven members of the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC), accompanied by Secretary-General, Mr Ricky Chu, and Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Rebecca Luk, visited Lok Ma Chau Division and Sheung Shui Division on January 14 with a view to understanding the difficulties of policing the activities of "General Merchandise Operators" (GMO).

Accompanying the IPCC members on the visit were Assistant Commissioner (Service Quality) Li Kin-fai and Complaints and Internal Investigations Branch Chief Superintendent Cheung Kin-kwong. Meeting the party on arrival was New Territories North Regional Commander Kwok Ho-fai.

The visit commenced with Lok Ma Chau Divisional Commander Li Kam-piu and Acting Sheung Shui Divisional Commander Li Hon-man introducing policing of GMO activities and the social issues arising from the activities. After the briefing, the IPCC members met the frontline officers who handle GMO related incidents on a daily basis.

Afterwards, the IPCC members toured the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Border Control Point, the vicinity of Sheung Shui MTR Station, and an industrial area to observe the GMO activities at close range.

The visit enabled the IPCC members and frontline officers to understand better each other's jobs.