OffBeat's 30th Anniversary
Congratulations to all current and past editorial production staff, as well as the formations and individuals who have contributed towards OffBeat over the past three decades. During this period 744 issues of OffBeat have faithfully recorded the achievements of Force members at work, in sport, and during cultural or other recreational activities.
As an information channel OffBeat has encouraged, advised and entertained officers of all ranks and grades, as well as the family members who support them. In addition it has consistently promoted impartial, reliable, caring policing. Most importantly OffBeat has also provided a reliable medium for communication between Force management and staff, the Force and the media, as well as the Force and the community at large.
This really is a remarkable achievement!
I remember reading a copy of the first issue. Then there were just 12 tabloid-sized pages printed in black and white. OffBeat has of course changed dramatically since those days and, I believe, changed for the better. There are now 20 pages, all printed fully in colour and depicting a continually improving layout design and content. The paper was and remains a bilingual publication with the distinction of having two front pages - one in English and one in Chinese. Most significantly, OffBeat is now available to many more people than the 30,000 who currently receive its published hard copies. It is now accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world via the Force website.
With the foregoing pedigree I have no doubt that OffBeat will continue to flourish for many years to come.
Commissioner Tsang Yam-pui
How things began
OffBeat contacted Mr Geoffrey Somers who, as a (then) Government Information Services Principal Information Officer, served as the founding editor of the Force's 30 year old newspaper .
"I well recall those early days," said Mr Somers, who is currently employed in a Hong Kong public relations firm. "The initial Editorial Team comprised myself and two Senior Information Officers, Mr Tommy Hahn and Mr Lui Tung-ip. It wasn't exactly easy to produce the first editions because Offbeat had been launched under somewhat controversial circumstances. Many senior Police officers had questioned the need for a [then] monthly Police newspaper (replacing a strictly in-house oriented quarterly magazine) -just as some had earlier questioned the need to set up the Police Public Relations Branch itself!
"Fortunately, the [then] Commissioner, Mr Charles Sutcliffe, was committed to its success from the very beginning. He took a close personal interest in Offbeat and its contents, and very soon it came to be generally regarded as a helpful source of interesting information about the Force and its members. Indeed, it was not long before both the Chinese and English newspapers began reproducing stories from its pages, confirming its wider acceptance by the media as well as the Force.
"Offbeat then went on to develop into a most valuable information, educational and entertainment tool. There are several developments worth noting," suggested Mr Somers: it went from an original 12-page monthly to a 24-page monthly and then to a 20-page fortnightly. In 1994 the original title 'OFF BEAT' was changed to 'OFF-BEAT' and then to the current 'OffBeat'. Finally, in June 1999 (Issue No 657) appeared in a blaze of full-colour.
"I am sure that it will continue to serve the Force and the people of Hong Kong for many years to come," he concluded.
On yer bike Bailey!
Roy Bailey and his wife visited Hong Kong in November at the start of a round-the-world trip that will include the USA, Australia and New Zealand. During his 30-odd years of service, he spent about 18 years in the Police Adventure Training Unit and the Police Cadet School and was well known throughout the Force for his athletic talents. Roy won the 1977 Dowman Road Race and finally shed a reputation for being the 'Perpetual Runner-Up' in that event -he had been pipped to the post on four previous occasions, each time by a different runner. He retired from the Force in 1997, and has since qualified as a Gymnasium Fitness Instructor and Bicycle Mechanic. His wife, a retired School Physical Education Instructor, has since qualified as a Sports Masseuse. Roy and his wife have both taken up Cycle Racing, (Time Trial events). He was absolutely delighted to be invited to grace the centrespread of the 30th anniversary issue of OffBeat just as he once graced the front page of the very first issue.
