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The Overseas Inspectors’ Association (OIA) was officially disbanded on October 24, marking the end of its nearly 78-year history.
Concerns about accommodation, pay and leave arrangements during the post-war years led to the formation of the OIA in 1947. Officers serving under overseas conditions of service, from Probationary Inspector to Chief Inspector, were eligible to join the OIA. The OIA had a diverse membership including Indians, Pakistanis and Chinese, alongside the majority who came from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations.
Over the years, the OIA has proactively participated in consultations regarding pay and conditions of service, and its opinion led to the establishment of the Police Pay Scale to formally recognise the uniqueness of the work of the Force. Chairpersons and Council Members of the OIA have maintained close communication with the Government and the Force management. They advised establishing additional pay points for Chief Inspectors during the Grade Structure Review for the Disciplined Services Grades in 2018, which was subsequently endorsed by the Government. The OIA also proposed extending the retirement age for police officers from 55 to 60 in 2019 to address challenges in recruitment and retention of newly joined police constables.
In addition, expatriate police officers have fought side by side with their local counterparts and made significant contributions at various important moments in Hong Kong’s history, including the Vietnamese refugee incident, the handover of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, demonstrations during the 6th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference held in Hong Kong in 2005, and the social incident in 2019. Members of the OIA demonstrated resilience and dedication in safeguarding Hong Kong’s security, underscoring the vital role of expatriate police officers in protecting the well-being of Hong Kong citizens and boosting the morale of the Force.
The Commissioner Chow Yat-ming remarked that the legacy of the OIA is preserved not only in historical archives but also deeply embedded in the culture of the Force, and reflected in Hong Kong’s long-standing safe and stable environment.
