The officers - Station Inspector Ho Kar-poh, Senior Staff Sergeant Lee Ngoi-kau and Staff Sergeants Tan Bak-hai and Nor Azahar Ibrahim - were the latest batch of SPCG officers to spend five days with Marine Region from February 13 to 17 under a regular reciprocal attachment programme. The programme aims to provide officers from both places with an opportunity for self-development and to enable them to learn the different approaches to common maritime law enforcement issues.

On February 14, the Singaporean officers visited SBDIV for a night attachment. They were welcomed on arrival by Chief Inspector Mark Anstiss and the officers of Sub-Unit 3. After being briefed on equipment, training, vessels, operational environment and safety issues, the SPCG officers then boarded a pair of Fast Pursuit Craft for a dusk patrol in Marine West Division during which they were shown the capabilities of the Division's vessels.

After returning to base, the SPCG officers conducted a nighttime patrol with SBDIV officers on board two of the Division's Damen Cougartek High Speed Interceptors. During the patrol the officers witnessed the interception of a locally registered cargo vessel near Shek Ngau Chau in Marine North Division. In this operation, the seven Hong Kong men on board were arrested for attempted smuggling and $15.6 million worth of VCDs and film processing paper were seized.

On conclusion of the attachment, CIP Anstiss had this to say about the attachment: "It was a privilege for us to be able to welcome our counterparts from Singapore to SBDIV and to do our part to foster the excellent relationship which exists between the Marine Police and SPCG. Two of the SPCG officers work on fast boats already, but the vessel types and the operating environment are very different.

"Initially we had planned a simulated nighttime anti-smuggling demonstration, but in the end it turned out to be unnecessary because our Singaporean counterparts were able to experience the reality of a real maritime anti-smuggling operation for themselves. I hope they enjoyed and benefited from what they have seen."

The Singapore officers pose with their Small Boat Division counterparts before observing the latter's anti-smuggling operations at sea