All Force members are encouraged to put forward their views on the proposed working dress during the two-month consultation period.

"Our aim is to provide a working dress which can meet the changing needs of a modern Police Force with a view to enhancing operational efficiency," Support Wing Superintendent (Field) Alice Yeung Chui-mei told OffBeat .

"Results of a research into the design and materials of the uniforms used by local and overseas law enforcement agencies and an extensive staff opinion survey have helped the development of six key concepts - uniformity, uni-sex, practicality, layering, comfort and safety - in designing the proposed working dress.

"A layering design is adopted for an all-weather uniform in which shirt and trousers are the basic attire for both male and female officers, with coats to be added optionally in cooler weather," SP Yeung said.

She added: "With this layering design, officers could put on a windbreaker or an overcoat to meet their needs under different weather or working conditions. The proposed working dress is made of heat retaining, breathable, waterproof, fire retardant and crease resistant fabric."

The proposed uniform is also practical and highly functional. It is specially designed to meet the operational needs of officers, including the provision of zipped openings on the windbreakers and overcoats to allow the speaker unit of the beat radio to pass through.

SP Yeung said a Force-wide consultation would be conducted from December 19 to the end of February next year to collect officers' views about the proposed working dress before deciding whether it would be adopted or revised.

"Every member of the Force including regular and auxiliary officers will each receive a questionnaire on the proposed Force working dress. Completion of the questionnaire is optional and all information will be kept confidential."

To help officers complete the questionnaire, the six land and marine Regions as well as the Police Headquarters will each be provided with a set of display boards and leaflets outlining the background and the design concepts of the proposed uniform, together with seven mannequins wearing different sets of the proposed working dress.

"A roving exhibition will be held in the police stations within each Region during the consultation period so that all officers will have a chance to have a look at the proposed working dress and feel the materials.

"The dates and venues of the roving exhibition of each Region will be arranged by that Region," SP Yeung said.

"A short introductory video on the proposed working dress will also be broadcast during briefing and training sessions or shift changeover. Relevant information will also be available on POINT."

Ms Yeung said that Force members would also be consulted on whether a police arm badge should be included in the uniform. "Officers are welcome to submit their designs of an arm badge if they like the idea of having one for the Force working dress."

As a closing remark, SP Yeung hoped that Force members would actively voice their views about the proposed working dress as it was designed with them in mind. "Each and every view will be considered before a final decision is made," she said.

OffBeat asked Woman Police Constable Chong Chi-ning who had tried on the proposed working dress what she felt about it. She said: "The fabric for the shirt is breathable and the trousers are crease resistant. It is easy to take care of the proposed uniform and I think it's both comfortable and fashionable."

If the proposed Force working dress is accepted by officers, it will be introduced in the winter of 2003.

(see Photo Features)

Left: Proposed Force working dress for cooler weather
Right: Existing winter uniforms