Commissioner Mr Tsang Yam-pui: "I want every officer to know that they have a vital part to play"

The 'Three Year Strategic Action Plan' is so named, not because it is published every three years, but because it takes three years as its planning horizon. In fact the Commissioner published his first SAP just two years ago. Senior management constantly reassess strategic priorities in the light of rapid changes in the environment and in April held a two-day conference to extensively review the SAP.

There are numerous challenges facing the Force. There is the ever-present threat of terrorism. The continued economic downturn brings demands for greater efficiency and accountability. Rapid progress towards closer integration with the rest of the Pearl River Delta region creates a need for even closer liaison with Mainland authorities. And finally, against this backdrop, the Force remains committed to the continuous improvement of the service it provides to the people of Hong Kong in all other areas.

The SAP is divided into six operational and three management priorities - referred to as "the six and the three". Each priority area consists of key projects. Since the publication of the original SAP which included 51 such key projects, 28 have been successfully completed and the remaining 23 are on schedule. To take into account of this progress and the changes which have taken place, a further 20 projects have been added to the revised plan.

Newly Launched Initiatives

Far-reaching initiatives embraced by the new key projects include:

* the adoption of the single division district as the norm with multi-division districts as the exception;

* a review of the role and structures of Police Tactical Unit and Emergency Unit with a view to improving standardisation of training and the operational interface between the units;

* reviewing the alignment of the New Territories regions in the light of demographic change;

* a review of the border policing strategy to take advantage of technology advances and the development of a multi-disciplined services team;

* the review of a number of headquarters policy wings with the aim of re-aligning their responsibilities;

* a system for the identification of processes which can be re-engineered for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness, and

* the enhancement of language capability and the development of a training strategy to improve the capacity for the understanding of, and responding to, Mainland related issues.

The Commissioner has been delighted with the Force response to the original SAP. Major achievements already made include the completion of the Survey Cycle and the Crime Formation Review, the inception of the Force Service Quality Award Scheme, the Force's hosting of the Transnational Organised Crime Conference, the introduction of the Management Development Programme for senior officers and the continued enhancement of relations with Mainland authorities.

Mr Tsang expressed his gratitude to all members of the Force for their enthusiastic response to the first SAP and looked forward to their continued support.

"I have been immensely proud of the way in which members of the Force respond to the many and varied challenges they are called upon to face. When the landscape changes as fast as it does, the police officer of today has to be aware that he or she is part of a bigger picture, a bigger plan. The SAP is that plan and I want every officer to know that they have a vital part to play," Mr Tsang said.

The SAP is available on POINT together with full details of each individual key project.

The revised three-year action plan is launched