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Tributes The following letter was sent to CP Hui . . . DEAR SIR, I am writing to thank you and your staff for helping to make our "community tribute" to the Hong Kong Delegation to the 13th Asian Games such a success. Despite the very short lead time for organising the event, your staff worked patiently and diligently to ensure that all went smoothly. I would particularly like to mention the efforts of Senior Superintendent (Operations), Kowloon West, Colin Thornborrow, Divisional Commander (Tsim Sha Tsui), Patrick Leung Fui and the Director of Music (Police Training School), Philip Ng, in this regard. Please accept my personal thanks for your assistance. David H T Lan Secretary for Home Affairs

More options may mean less fatal shootings DEAR SIR, I note that a newspaper recently ran an article on new instructions issued by Force management for the handling of drug addicts "resisting arrest" (arrested persons/suspects who threaten officers with possibly contaminated syringes). According to the newspaper, these instructions are that "it may be permissible for officers to draw their service revolvers and open fire, if considered necessary. These instructions are not applicable to uniformed officers as they are armed with shields and batons". Is it not time that officers are issued with sufficient equipment to defend themselves? There is no good reason why plainclothes officers are not issued with batons (the ASP extendible is a perfect solution to this problem), or with CS spray or OC foam. Currently plainclothes officers have only the options of verbal control, physical control (self defence) and then application of deadly force. And although senior officers my be able to justify a shooting only a judge or coroner can rule it lawful. The suggestion that uniformed officers are armed with shields and batons to defend themselves is questionable. How many officers carry a shield? How many officers have ever used the issue baton to defend themselves? The current issued baton is clumsy and slow to draw, and I challenge the average UB officer to prove otherwise. Up close and in the spur of the moment, this baton will never be drawn. We have heard for years that various studies are underway, but I have yet to see any evidence of change. The time to change the baton is long overdue. Issue extendible batons (ASP 16" to plainclothes and 21" to UB officers) and more OC foam. It will not be long before another officer is injured, infected with a contagious disease or killed just because he/she could not draw their baton when they did not feel justified in shooting a suspect. Simply because it has not happened recently does not mean that it will not happen tomorrow. Yours faithfully Inspector N A Pearson E &C Traffic HKI REPLY . . . DEAR SIR, Your correspondent raises a number of issues, which I shall attempt to answer. Contrary to the newspaper report, no instruction has yet been issued concerning suspects who threaten officers with syringes or needles and any such instruction concerning the use of force or firearms would apply equally to both uniformed and plainclothes duties. This subject does, however, involve a wide range of issues which currently are being addressed by various wings in PHQ. I think it fair to say that every police officer should by now be aware of the dangers posed by syringes and needles used by drug addicts and common sense dictates that one should exercise the utmost caution when dealing with these items. As for equipment, the Senior Directorate recently endorsed both OC foam and a straight extendible baton as items of equipment for the Force. OC foam will replace all IS stocks of CS spray and will be issued to all EU and PTU personnel and to non arms-trained women officers. Stocks should be available by April or May. A 21-inch Kevlar straight-extension baton has been approved and a tender exercise is currently underway. The baton will be issued as beat equipment from armouries with the number of batons based on the "Luddington formula", i.e. the same scale as for revolvers. There will be sufficient numbers for plainclothes units such as SDS to draw batons if they wish. Officers will be required to undergo a short training course before carrying this baton on duty. TRG Wing will co-ordinate the training and hopefully completion of the training will coincide with the completion of purchase procedures in May 1999. I trust that this addresses the concerns raised. Yours faithfully C W Mitchell for ACP SUP

Dogged DEAR SIR, Since moving to Tui Min Hoi Village in Sai Kung I have had numerous occasions to request the services of my local police department. In every case my appeals for assistance have been in regard to nocturnal noise nuisances caused by the many dogs �� both stray and domestic �� that seemingly have the run of the neighbourhood. I am pleased to report that the response times have been relatively prompt and that officers have attended to my concerns in a consistently professional manner. And, I might add, I am pleasantly surprised at the dispatch officers' English language proficiency. My gratitude to ADVC OPS N R Dunn for taking the time in his office to clarify policy and my commendations to his subordinates for their competence in service to my community, Hong Kong's finest. Respectfully James L Braun Sai Kung

CID Team 2, Sai Ying Poon praised DEAR SIR, I am writing to thank members of CID Team 2 stationed in Sai Ying Poon, Western District for their efforts, patience and time spent on my case. I am a law student at the Hong Kong University and on the evening of 12 June last year I was shocked to find a man hiding in one of the ladies' rooms of the university. There were at least five police officers studying in one of my law classes so I reported the incident immediately to them. Investigating the case was CID Team 2 from Sai Ying Poon, who were extremely comforting, patient, helpful and competent while handling the incident. May I again take this opportunity to thank those police involved in this investigation, and particularly Woman Sergeant Wong. Karen Pang

Sick wife helped DEAR SIR, My wife felt sick while she was driving home in the early morning of January 3, so she parked her car by the side of Shouson Hill Road East in Aberdeen. She was spotted by police officers who after approaching her lost no time in informing me about the situation, telling me how to get to the location and calling an ambulance. I would like to express my gratitude to Station Sergeant So and his Task Force team from Aberdeen District. Yours faithfully Cheung Hak-lam

"Smart" officer DEAR SIR, We happened to be on the road leading from Kwai Chung Plaza to Metroplaza and saw a mindless passenger board a taxi in a restricted area marked with double yellow lines despite the taxi driver's objections. The taxi driver was then stopped by a Traffic Officer. Fearing that the officer might issue a fixed penalty ticket to the innocent driver without knowing what actually happened, we volunteered to offer our evidence for the benefit of the driver. However, the officer seemed to know what was going on and only took a statement from the driver without prosecuting him. This officer was a smart one. We think all other police officers should emulate him in order that the Hong Kong Police Force is reflected favourably in society. Chan Shuk-har and Ng Lai-wah

Kai Tak Airport Walk for Millions The following letter was sent to Y L Chui, Police Community Relations Officer Kowloon City District . . . DEAR MS CHUI, The Kai Tak Airport Walk for Millions was a success on 20 December 1998. On behalf of the 140 social welfare agencies which the Community Chest supports, please convey our gratitude to the JPC band members who took part in the Walk, played at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and spared so much of their time and effort to make this event a success. Winnie Sek Deputy Director of Campaigns & Donations

Beyond the call of duty DEAR SIR, I was driving near Tai Wai on 12 December when my car had a flat tyre. At that moment, a policeman on motorbike AM7328 drove by and took the initiative to help me change the tyre and clean up afterwards. I express my appreciation to him. Siu See-kong