CPC Series:
New era for Force culture

0 Photo

(An article by CPC member, Tsuen Wan Detective Sergeant Li Kwok-chi)

Over the past several decades, Hong Kong enjoyed strong economic growth and a peaceful life. The efforts of the Police in maintaining law and order were also highly praised.

The city, however, has been suffering from an economic downturn in recent years. There are widespread grievances among members of the public, and it is not difficult to understand why public officers, especially frontline Police officers who have frequent contacts with the public, may easily become the target of criticism.

Members of the public are not as readily cooperative with the Police as before and they tend to question the power of the Police. This may be partly explained by the fact that they are now more educated and have a better knowledge of the right of privacy and the right to know. People nowadays have a higher expectation of the performance of the civil service, particularly that of Police officers who protect their life and property.

It is not difficult to find newspapers reports featuring conflicts between the Police and the public. Police officers' patience is thus frequently put to the test. Imagine a uniformed PC on patrol who intercepts a man in a public housing estate. The PC may face an uncooperative attitude and accusations of infringing upon his privacy or human rights. If the man possesses offensive weapons, the PC's life may even be at risk.

Our Force plays a major role in maintaining law and order and fighting crime. Colleagues should therefore not be discouraged by groundless criticism, otherwise our morale will be affected.

We strive to provide a 'quality service' to the public but this is different from merely serving like a waiter acting only upon customers' requests. We should respect human rights and the right to know and deal with people in a reasonable, sensible and lawful manner. We should also listen carefully to well-intentioned comments and try to understand the needs of the public. In return, we will earn the respect of the people of Hong Kong and maintain a harmonious relationship with them.

Our society is changing fast and we must adapt quickly to these changes. The key to delivering a quality service remains unchanged however, that is, to try our very best and to be polite to the public.