He also called at the Public Security units of several cities and counties to look at their firearms training and took the opportunity to share with Anhui officers experience of policing, law and order, and training.

The Mobile Training Team was led by Superintendent (Weapons Training) Lee Yeung-chi, and consisted of Chief Inspector Chan Wing-leung, Sergeants Chan Wai-che, Chan Wai-ming and Lee Siu-wah. To ensure that a sufficient number of firearms instructors would possess experience of conducting tactics training on the Mainland, three inspectors of the Weapons Training Division also joined the team to provide theoretical and practical training to 80 trainees and over 100 observers in a newly constructed tactics training complex at the institute, assisted by eight instructors of the institute.

Delivering an opening address for the training course, Mr Xie Lin, Deputy Division Chief of Training of the Ministry of Public Security, stressed the importance of safety for police officers performing duties. He noted that the number of Mainland police officers killed while investigating cases fell from 68 in 2002 to seven in 2007, a clear testament to the success of tactics training.

The Mobile Training Team tailor-made the training programme for the trainees and introduced simulation ammunition for their training. The trainees found the programme practical and realistic. They also appreciated that the programme had taken their psychological state into account, analysed tactical theories from different dimensions, and placed emphasis on different concepts like taking cover and maintaining a safe distance, all of which were different from conventional techniques. Moreover, they were impressed with the friendliness and professionalism the instructors showed while conducting the daily training programme, which lasted more than 12 hours.

At the graduation ceremony, Mr Tsang presented graduation certificates to the trainees and praised them for their tenacity for training.

The training programme signified yet another example of the successful collaboration between the Force and the Ministry of Public Security, and the closer ties between the Force and Anhui.

The Force started organising mobile training for Mainland officers in 2004 and has so far provided tactics training to some 1,000 trainees in ten provinces. Incidentally, the visit to Anhui was the last occasion Superintendent Lee led the Mobile Training Team because he is due to retire early next year.

Mr Tsang chats with frontline police officers in Anhui

Deputy Commissioner (Management) Tsang Wai-hung inspecting Anhui police's equipment