The Governor checks out a confiscated "Blackstar" at the B&FI Bureau

IT was a dismal, rainy day in May, but that didn't seem to dampen the spirits of Governor Chris Patten who greeted CP Eddie Hui Ki-on with a "Hi, Commissioner, nice to see you," before he was ushered into Arsenal House for what would be the last formal visit by a British Hong Kong Governor to Police Headquarters before the handover of sovereignty on 1 July.

The visit was informal yet business-like with Governor Patten scheduled to be updated by the Planning and Implementation team on security and police operations in connection with the handover ceremonies, followed by a briefing at the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, then given a tour of the Ballistics and Firearms Identification Bureau.

After signing the visitor's book, the entourage made its way up to the sixth floor of the East Wing of Arsenal House to a room overlooking Victoria Harbour and the sites of the Farewell and Handover ceremonies - Tamar and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Extention. "Looks like you polished the floor here just for my visit," Governor Patten joked as he met with members of the Planning and Implementation team.

With the site that will be televised to the world in the background, CSP SD Tang King-shing outlined the security plans for the Farewell and Handover ceremonies. P & I team members had to field a lot of astute questions from the Governor who talked about special arrangements for such internationally protected persons as Margaret Thatcher and US Secretary of State Madelaine Albright, the handling of demonstrators at the event, and a myriad of other arrangements.

The long briefing was followed by a demonstration of security equipment to be deployed during the ceremonies.

The entourage then made its way to the new West Wing of Arsenal House for a tour of the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, where the Governor listened keenly as Fung Siu-yuen, ACP Crime, and Chan Wai-ki, CSP CIB, briefed him on the Bureau's charter.

The CIB is responsible for monitoring triad and organised crime activities, and conducting intelligence-based operations against triad societies and syndicates engaged in serious crime. As the activities of organised criminals become international in scope, the need for close co-operation between law enforcement agencies grows. CIB maintains liaison with overseas agencies, many of which have officers stationed in Hong Kong, or in the region. This results in a regular exchange of information and provides a framework for effective concerted action.

The Governor was extremely impressed with the Bureau's Criminal Intelligence Computer System - its sophisticated workings presented by Jeff Herbert, Superintendent CIB E Division.

At the Ballistics and Firearms Identification Bureau, Mr Patten met with staff who explained the work of the BFIB, which recently upgraded its facilities by acquiring some of the most sophisticated equipment available for the forensic examination of arms and ammunition.

The Governor was given a demonstration of how gunshot residue can determine whether someone has fired a weapon; examined two spent bullets through the Bureau's state-of-the-art computerised comparison microscope; saw the indoor shooting range where test firing of suspects' weapons is conducted; and had some "hands on" experience with a "Blackstar" sidearm - one of many mainland weapons seized in crime cases.

The Governor, a great supporter of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, left PHQ with as little pomp and ceremony as when he arrived.

Asian Interpol contact officers are told by CP that "the Force will retain the sole responsibility for internal security and the policing of Hong Kong including its waters and border with China"

"The FBI has been working with the Hong Kong Police for over 30 years. The best way to describe the two Forces in terms of co-operation is 'two countries, one-system'. We don't expect anything to change after July. It's business as usual"

THE Hong Kong Police Force will remain a part of Interpol after the change of sovereignty but will operate as a sub-bureau of China instead of being a sub-bureau of Britain, Commissioner of Police Eddie Hui Ki-on told the 29 delegates from 17 Asian countries attending the Second Interpol Meeting of Asian Contact Officers.

CP Hui said that apart from a few very superficial and cosmetic changes in which the Force would drop the word "Royal" from its name, there would be no disruption to the Force's work and no change to the way in which the Hong Kong Police carry it out.

"The rank and organisational structure of the Hong Kong Police will remain as it is today and the Force will retain the sole responsibility for internal security and the policing of Hong Kong - including its waters and border with China. With regard to myself as Commissioner of police," Mr Hui continued, "I shall be responsible to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong and will not be subordinate to the Public Security Ministry in Beijing."

The Commissioner noted that the Hong Kong Police work closely with other Interpol members, particularly those who had law enforcement agents attached to their consular offices in Hong Kong and those in neighbouring cities.

Said Police Commissioner Hui: "To ensure that bureaucracy does not get in the way of good police work, our Crime Bureaus are free to liaise directly with their counterparts and contact officers throughout Asia on behalf of Interpol Hong Kong. Such direct communication works well and has enabled us to put numerous criminals behind bars in Hong Kong and overseas."

Hong Kong joined the Interpol in 1960 and has been an active and committed member. Hong Kong Police officers regularly attend conferences organised by Interpol and the Force has a superintendent based at Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, France.

The Asian Contact Officer Network was set up in 1995 to provide the structure for urgent and effective personal contact between Asian National Central Bureaus (each member state in Interpol is represented by a National Central Bureau) and sub-bureaus. The contact officers are responsible for rapid transmission of police information and assistance. There are 48 contact officers from 30 Asian NCBs and sub-bureaus.

According to this year's chairman of the conference, Mohammad Zahid Mahmood from Pakistan, from an Asian perspective the meeting was extremely constructive as participants discussed operational and procedural problems for discharging their liaison functions and focused on solutions.

"Suggestions for improvement to the present working methods of the Asian Contact Officers were discussed and adopted," he said. "A lot was accomplished. This meeting helped us make informal contacts and understand each other and, in terms of Interpol, will make the organisation in the respective Asian countries more effective. This will definitely have a bearing on the control of crime."