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| Parking relief in the works? |
DEAR SIR, Force Management is well aware of the problem of too many cars and not enough parking spaces not only in JPO Married Quarters but all over Hong Kong where land is very scarce and we have one of the highest densities of vehicular traffic in the world.
As it is intended that the limited car parking spaces available be enjoyed by all officers, current policy is to issue an access label to each household and allow entry on a first come first served basis. This will only work if the tenants themselves display common sense and self discipline.
It has become obvious that further measures are now required to assist the property management companies that control the car parks on behalf of Government.
A number of alternatives have been put to the Residents Associations of the various PMQs on future methods of issuing labels commensurate with the available parking spaces. These include allocation of labels on a points system similar to the allocation of quarters, or allocation by ballot.
Once the views of residents have been fully considered then steps will be taken to arrange a re-issue of labels for all PMQs. Cheung Kam-chuen,
SP Quarters
Wanted: radical solutions
DEAR SIR, It is good to see that we are at last progressing by reducing our working hours. I would however suggest that what those working on shifts really need is not so much a 30-minute reduction per shift, but a two-day recovery period each week. This would definitely improve the conditions of service for our officers, leading to better quality of service for the public.
Those who work shifts know that the weekly leave day is hardly time for the body's mechanisms to recover, let alone allow an officer a day of recreation. For those not working shifts -Ü try it and see how your body feels after two to three months. Just because we have been working a six-day week for as long as anyone can remember does not necessarily mean it is the best system.
Many Forces, especially in the UK and the USA work a system that allows officers two to three days recovery between shifts. Surely it is within the capabilities of the Force to come up with a workable plan, even if it means working longer hours per shift, to gain two or three days off at the end. Indeed I am sure many people would prefer to work 12-hour shifts four times per week. This would still be 48 hours work, but weekly travelling and briefing time would be slashed dramatically. This would surely lead to improvement in the quality of life for those working shifts in frontline duties.
We had an improvement a few years ago with the change from C-B-A to A-B-C shifts. Why not go one step further and finish the job? There are 28,000 of us in this Force, is any one out there brave enough to come up with (what some may perceive to be) a radical solution? Chris Pedder
SIP EU KW
Face shield allotment reviewed
DEAR SIR, Mr Yeung's suggestion on the personal issue of face shields to all beat duties (published in OFFBEAT, issue 607) refers. The first cycle of CPR training for all frontline officers has recently been completed with more than 17,000 regular and 3,000 auxiliary officers having been so trained. We are now in the process of reviewing the scale of distribution of face shields and once this is completed, a decision will be made on the feasibility of personal issue. K Braithwaite
for Commissioner of Police
Force lauded
The following letter was first published in the SCMP newspaper on 9 May 97 . . .
DEAR SIR, I think the members of the Hong Kong Police Force deserve praise for their efficiency and courage, when it comes to enforcing the law and standing their ground, especially when they are confronted by aggressive groups of people.
Take, for example, the incident recently, when officers were surrounded by a group of men outside a nightclub in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Hong Kong's police image has been tarnished now and again by a few bad apples. However, it is clear that there are a lot of very good officers out there risking their lives in order to uphold the law. This ensures that the people of Hong Kong may enjoy their basic rights of freedom to walk around the streets and still feel safe.
The future prosperity of Hong Kong does not rely on just freedom to demonstrate, or funding of various groups. Of greater importance is law and order in Hong Kong society as a whole and the need for people to feel that the streets of Hong Kong are safe for them and their families.
Surely Hong Kong does not want to become like Macau, or does it? The Hong Kong Police Force is doing a brilliant job. Eric Kee,
Mid-levels |
Police riot helmets built to protect
DEAR SIR, In response to Sergeant Lau's queries regarding the Force riot helmet, he can rest assured that the helmet currently in use exceeds the requirements set down for construction site headgear. Whereas the latter is a simple molded plastic shell with inner fitting ring, the Force helmet possesses a much thicker and durable polyester resin outer shell, inner padded lining, neck protection, a full face visor and a chin strap. Our helmets are designed not only to prevent injury from direct blows and falling objects, but also afford the wearer a degree of protection from liquids as well.
The present Force helmets are manufactured to British Standard 5240:1987 which, among other things, provides a degree of protection from 12-gauge shotgun ammunition. It has not been considered necessary for OSHB to be approached as they also commend adherence to this standard.
There is no expiry date on helmets; however they should be examined periodically and replacement sought if they are damaged.
Finally, Labour Department regulations state that protective headgear must be worn by all persons entering a construction site, and in this respect, Police are not exempt.
The Force U&A I S Sub-Committee is presently testing a number of European and American helmets with the aim of identifying headgear which will further improve the level of protection offered.
However, I would like to thank Sgt Lau for raising these concerns and assure him that efforts will continue to be made to improve officersÍ safety in this important area. B D M Hancock,
Deputy Commandant,
Police Tactical Unit
A night to remember
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Annual Ball was held on 9 May in the Grand Ballroom of the Conrad Hotel. Being the last Auxy Ball before the handover of sovereignty, for all those present it was an extra-special event and an evening that will long be remembered. Enjoying the company of H E Governor Chris Patten and his wife Lavender, Mr and Mrs Chau Cham-chui, CP Mr and Mrs Eddie Hui Ki-on, DCP Mr and Mrs Wong Tsan-kwong, and Mr and Mrs Tsang Yam-pui, who made up the head table, were over 500 Auxies and their spouses - who, as these photos attest, danced the night away.
A toast to the Auxies from the head table
Governor Patten leads the procession into the Ballroom and to the head table
Chris and Lav tripping the life fantastic at the Auxy Ball
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