"The stress started to occur when the Internationally Protected Persons began to arrive in Hong Kong on the 28th of June - and just mounted at the arrival of the Royal party and that of the Chinese leaders. But as the whole operation progressed and things continued to go extremely smoothly, I started to feel comfortable that our plans were now inplemented and porving to be effective. "We started arranging for the security of the transitional period about two years ago. Once the Planning and Implementation team was assembled from then on everything was charted in meticulous detail. We had lots of plans, because up to the final week before the handover we still hadn't gotten the final version of how the ceremonies were going to be run. So we had no optiion but to prepare lots and lots of alternatives. When a final decision was made, we were able to pull out the right plan for the right scenario. "There were several bomb hoaxes, but because our secruity plan was so comprehensive we never paricked or over - reacted. And that was important. Because of our meticulous planning and our secruity arrangements we were confident that the threats were hoaxes. "One thing that really impressed me was the support given to me by my senior officers and also by my colleagues. The Regional Commanders in HKI, KW, KE, Marine and members of my term were all under enomous pressure, but they just handled it all withour bothering me. I'm extermely grateful to them. "It shows the commitment of the whole Force. Everybody knew that this was a major operation to Hong Kong and to the Police Force. We had to prove to the world that Hong Kong remains safe and stable. "I thank my colleagues and all the officers who worked tirelessly to pull this historical event off withour incident. I thank the public for their support and tolerance and I thank the press because they've been rather positive towards us." - Dick Lee Ming-Kwai Planning and Implementation team leader ACP (Special Duties)

Police Training School bugler stands at attention as the British flag is folded after being lowered for the last time at the training facility in Aberdeen Traffic Police Officers play an essential role in marshalling one of the huge pubic demonstrations through the streets of Happy Valley to Central to a rally in front of the LegCo Building Planning and Implementation team members brief CP Eddie Hui Ki-on on security details for the farewell ceremony

Force Search Unit leaves no inch of new Extension of the Convention and Exhibition Centre unchecked. Here FSU officers search the venue's gigantic roof As onlookers cheer and applaud, New Territory Traffic officers escort PLA troops into the HKSAR on 1 July 1997 Traffic Motorcycle Police go over their escort rehearsal of IPPs and VIPs yet another time in meticulous detail