PNC training takes a major step forward
Director of Operations Hung Hak-wai and Assistant Commissioner (Operations) Wong Chi-hung officiated at the inauguration ceremony of the new Postgraduate Diploma Course in Public Order Studies (Crisis Negotiation) on October 6. The first of its kind, the course is offered by the School of Professional and Continuing Education, University of Hong Kong. This development marks a major milestone for training for Police Negotiation Cadre (PNC) members and a testament to their professionalism.
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Order Studies
After four years of preparation, the University of Hong Kong has accredited PNC's in-house professional training, which comprises a two-week Crisis Negotiation Course, PNC Quarterly Training, lectures, workshops and PNC callout experience.
Twenty PNC members have enrolled in the course, which consists of a total of five modules, namely, Public Order and Disorder, Crisis Management and Adaptive Leadership, Human Rights and Law Enforcement, Contemporary Issues in Crisis Negotiation and Advanced Professional Practices in Crisis Negotiation. After completing the course, graduates would acquire Level 6 qualification under the Qualification Framework.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr Hung said the course would strengthen students' personal development and further enhance PNC's operational effectiveness and efficiency. At the same time, Mr Wong commented that the accreditation status ensured the continuous high standing of the Force in the international law enforcement community and amongst the crisis negotiation units around the world.
Other training opportunities
The Officer Commanding PNC, Mr Wong Kwong-hing, told OffBeat that apart from lifelong learning and local training opportunities, PNC members also had a chance to attend overseas training and international conferences to advance their negotiation skills. In September this year, three negotiators, Chief Inspector Liauw Ka-kei, Senior Inspector Tsui Siu-man and Inspector Tam Wai-yi, attended the 23rd Annual Negotiation Training Conference 2012 in the USA, hosted by the California Association of Hostage Negotiators (CAHN). Over 400 officers from the USA, Europe and Asia were present in the conference to share experience, negotiation tactics and the latest technology.
In a particular session, a suicide survivor was invited to share his personal experience and psychological insights before and after he jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA. Conferences of this nature are extremely important to a negotiator's professional development and could make a difference between life and death in a crisis situation.
Mr Hung, staff of the Hong Kong University and guests
with the first intake students
PNC delegation attends the CAHN Annual Conference 
CAHN
Negotiators introduce the latest negotiation equipment
Training in conducting negotiations in a hostage
incident on board a vessel
PNC members conduct negotiations while attending an
anti-terrorism exercise with officers of Emergency Unit New Territories
North
Joint exercise on rail tracks with
RAILDIST and MTR Corporation