 D PT Leung Fung-shun presenting a Good Citizen Award to 74-year-old Chan Yat-kiu |
YU TAT-LEUNG, an alert and brave taxi
driver who helped police arrest a suspect in connection with a burglary, was among the 38
civic-minded men and three women aged 14 to 74 who were awarded and presented with
plaques, certificates and cash at the most recent Good Citizen Award presentation
ceremony ¡Ð which is held twice a year, and organised by the Police Public Relations Branch
with sponsorship from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
Last July, Mr Yu was driving his taxi when he saw a security guard chasing two burglary suspects in Sha Tin. Mr Yu followed one of the suspects in his taxi, intending to catch him. However, as soon as his taxi stopped, the suspect boarded his car and asked him to go to a KCR station. Mr Yu pretended to follow the instruction, but when the suspect tried to exit the car Mr Yu grabbed him, and with the assistance of a passer-by subdued the suspect who was handed over to police. |
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The youngest award recipient, 14-year-old Cheung Tsz-wing, was walking past a subway in Sheung Shui last August when he heard a woman shouting that she had been robbed. The youngster followed the suspect until he came across two police officers to whom he reported the case before leading them to the suspect who was arrested. The stolen property, along with a long knife, was recovered from the suspect. The oldest award recipient, 74-year-old Chan Yat-kiu, displayed bravery when she followed, caught and held onto (while calling for help) a man who had stolen her wallet in Yuen Long on June 5 this year. The thief was subsequently subdued by passers-by and arrested by police. Officiating at the Good Citizen Award presentation ceremony were Hong Kong Police Force Director of Personnel and Training Leung Fung-shun, along with Fight Crime Committee member Raymond Chow and the Director of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Dr Eden Woon. Mr Chow praised the 41 award recipients for displaying outstanding courage, alertness and resourcefulness. "They have set a good example to the public and are well deserving of the Good Citizen Award," he said, adding that the scheme was a success because more and more people were taking the initiative to assist police in reporting crimes and arresting culprits. Stressed Mr Chow: "Since the scheme was launched in 1973, 2,704 people have been presented with the award ¡Ð which demonstrates that the police have extensive support and co-operation from the public in maintaining law and order in Hong Kong." | |
| FIVE officers from the Singapore Police Force who serve in its Special Operations Command paid an 11-day working visit to the Hong Kong Police earlier this month and toured a variety of formations including the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, the Ballistics and Firearms Identification Bureau, the Airport Security Unit, the Weapons Training Division at NTN Regional Headquarters and the Police Dog Unit, as well as Border District, Lok Ma Chau Police Station, Marine Regional Headquarters, the Police Tactical Unit in Fanling where they were quartered. |
 Singaporeans pose with the ASU: "Our delegation was extremely impressed by the Airport Security Unit |
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Although this was the first time the Special Operations Command (whose function is similar to that of the Police Tactical Unit) has visited the Hong Kong Police, there have been many previous exchange visits between the two forces. Training Officer Syed Sagoff, Inspector Marshal Phang, AG Station Inspector Wong Toon-han, Senior Staff Sergeant Lim Sin-bin and Staff Sergeant Tan Ngian-kwang said the primary aim of the visit was to enhance their understanding of the operations of the formations visited and to view first-hand the advanced technology and equipment used by the Hong Kong Police Force. The Singaporean delegation will then prepare reports suggesting the acquisition of equipment and propose new ideas and improvements to operational techniques learned for adaptation to their Special Operations Command. Inspector Phang noted that the Singapore Police Force underwent a reorganisation in the 1980s and that it was seeking to adopt progressive and effective methods used by overseas police forces by means of advanced technology and equipment to maintain law and order. Training Officer Sagoff: "Our delegation was extremely impressed by the HKI PTU emergency turnout as well as the Airport Security Unit. We do not have a special unit stationed at the Singapore airport, but I think it's a good idea and will be suggesting we create one much like the HKP's. We were also impressed by the Force's advanced firearms and training programme, as well as the equipment used in many of the formations. We'll have a lot to say in our report." Before leaving the Singaporean delegation expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the Hong Kong Police, particularly officers from PTU and all other formations who made their visit both productive and memorable. | |
 D C&S Lau Yuk-kuen presenting a course certificate to one of its participants |
SEVENTEEN lawmen and women from
Australia, the US, Britain, Italy, Thailand, Holland, New Zealand, Germany and Japan
took part in the 5th Triad Course for Overseas Law Enforcement Officers organised by
the Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB) from 23 November to 4 December.
Headed by course director SP Ng Kam-wing, other staff from CIB who helped make the course a success included assistant course director WCIP Chan Cho-kuen, SIP Kwok Kan-shing, SIP Cheung Chan-leung and course instructor CIP Peter Ip Pau-fuk, whose triad knowledge and expertise is renowned throughout Asia and increasingly the world. |
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Guest lecturers included Dr Chu Yiu-kwong of the University of Hong Kong, SP Yue Ting-wang and CIP Tsang Fan-kwong. Preparation work for the popular course, which is now always oversubscribed by foreign police agencies whose officers are keen to attend, started about six months before its commencement with the CIB sending letters to consulates in Hong Kong, inviting representatives from different countries to enrol. CIP Peter Ip explained that the course's aim was to provide law enforcement officers from countries encountering and unfamiliar with triad activities an opportunity to understand the history, culture and modus operandi of Chinese secret societies; to debunk the myths that have sprung up around them; to detail the Hong Kong Police Force's strategy for dealing with them; and to share participants' common experiences in tackling triads. An important by-product of the course is that it opens up and strengthens channels of communication between countries leading to the sharing of international intelligence and cross-border co-operation in combating criminal activities involving triads. In fact, the course provided an opportunity for participants to present their own understanding of triad society and share their experiences in tackling such crimes. UK Detective Inspector Lucy Woollcombe said she was impressed by the content of the course, the expertise of the instructors, and the added dimension of field study which included visits to Hong Kong temples and such areas as Tsim Sha Tsui Division, Yau Tsim and Mong Kok Districts where participants were able to gain a better understanding of the anti-triad operations of local police officers. "I had no idea of the depth, scope and organisation of triad societies before this course by the Hong Kong Police," she said. Italian Police Captain Danilo Rizzi said that the course was the best among all other seminars and conferences he had attended in over 20 countries. He was particularly impressed by the professional skills and knowledge of Hong Kong Police officers in tackling triad activities, and appreciated the insight and new regard it gave him of Chinese culture. "I am very impressed with the course givers and the Hong Kong Police Force," he said. | |
