subject: Hong Kong Police Force - 7 Inch Digital Photo Frames - Oled Screen Mp3 Player [print this page] History History
A woman asking a sergeant for directions.
On 30 April 1841, 12 weeks after the British had landed in Hong Kong, orders were given by Captain Charles Elliot to establish a police force in the new colony. The first chief of police was Captain William Caine, who also served as the Chief Magistrate. The Hong Kong Police was officially established by the colonial government on 1 May 1844, and the duties of the magistrate and head of police were separated. At the time of its establishment the police force consisted of 32 men. It was a multi-racial force, including white officers, and constables of Indian (mostly Sikhs from Punjab), Chinese and other origins. Policemen from different ethnic groups were assigned a different alphabetical letter before their batch numbers: "A" for Europeans, "B" for Indians, "C" for local Chinese who spoke Cantonese, and "D" for Chinese recruited from Shandong Province. "E" was later assigned to White Russians who arrived from Siberia after the Russian Civil War. The head-dress also varied according to ethnicity: the whites wore kepis, the Sikh Indians had uniform turbans, and the Chinese wore a form of straw hat. All of them, however, shared the same green tunics in winter - giving rise to the nicknames, 'luk yee' (green coat) and later 'wu kwai' - (tortoise).
For several decades Hong Kong was a 'rough-and-tumble' port with a 'wild west' attitude to law and order. Consequently many members of the force were equally rough individuals. As Hong Kong began to flourish and make its place in the world Britain began to take a dim view of the government's lack of grip in both public and private sectors, and officials with strong values and Victorian concepts of management and discipline were sent to raise standards. Strong leadership, both of Hong Kong and of the force began to pay dividends towards the latter part of the 19th century, and business prospered accordingly. Piracy on the seas, a centuries old way of life for many dwellers on the coast of south China proved a thorn in the side of the Water Police from day one up until the early 1960s.
The 1890s brought challenges both operational and organisational - outbreaks of bubonic plague. 1893-94 and the annexation of the New Territories 1898-99 created difficult but surmountable problems. Hong Kong slid easily into the 20th century, at least in its first decade. The fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911 brought civil unrest and the start of WWI in 1914 saw many European officers enlist and return to UK. In the 1920s and 1930s Hong Kong's general peace was punctuated by bouts of civil unrest sparked by labour disputes, instability in China and Japanese militarism. When war came again in 1941 an unknown number of police officers and reserves - Chinese, Indian, European and Eurasian had their lives taken by the Japanese during both the main conflict and the occupation.
Police in 1906 include Indians and Chinese.
Post-war, the mechanism of government in Hong Kong was a shambles and the police force was certainly in a bad way - no men, no equipment, devastated buildings and important resources like intelligence files, fingerprints, criminal records and personnel documents all lost/destroyed and the Water Police had 4 barely serviceable launches. Nevertheless, the situation presented an opportunity to 'start from scratch' and after the 'British Military Administration', during which Colonel C.H. Sansom headed the force, Hong Kong was in a position to stand on its own feet again in May 1946.
When Japan invaded, the commissioner was John Pennefather-Evans, through war-time internment he worked secretly to draft a conceptual plan for the reorganisation of the force. Although he was not to head the force after the war, his plans were broadly supported by Governor Sir Mark Young and implemented under the formidable Commissioner Duncan MacIntosh thereby generating the foundations of today's structure and philosophy. The proposals included equality in recruitment and promotion for local officers and the cessation of recruitment of European constables. Moreover, doubts about the willingness of Hong Kong people to accept Indian officers who had worked, and often abused their authority, under the Japanese administration (December 1941 until August 1945) forced authorities to wind down the Sikh contingent. Instead, Pakistani and Shandong Chinese were recruited as constables and this went on until the early 1960s. The last European inspectorate officers joined in 1994. The first female inspector joined in 1949, followed by the first intake of WPCs in 1951 - currently about 14% of the force is female, holding all ranks between constable and assistant commissioner.
The 1950s saw the commencement of Hong Kong's 40 years rise to global eminence. Throughout this period the Hong Kong police has successfully tackled many issues that have challenged Hong Kong's stability. Between 1949 and 1989, Hong Kong has experienced several huge waves of immigration from mainland China, most notably 1958-62. The force also took over responsibility for manning the border from British forces in 1990-91. In the 1970s/80s large numbers of Vietnamese 'boat people' arrived in Hong Kong posing challenges first for marine police, secondly for officers who manned the dozens of camps in the territory and lastly for those who had to repatriate them.
Police officers in summer uniform. The uniform, except for the Bermuda shorts, was used until 2004.
The most serious challenge though has been civil disorder. In 1956 supporters of the China Nationalist movement defied government regulations to provide the pretext for the eruption of conflict with pro-Communist activists and sympathisers - serious disorder was suppressed by the force and British military. In 1966 Communist groups fanned the flames of riots which broke out over a price rise on the Star Ferry. Following this instance in spring 1967, at the time of the Cultural Revolution in China, left-wing workers instigated long and bloody riots. The Hong Kong Police lost ten men during the turmoil which saw a 10-month campaign of insurrection, bombing and murder. For its determined and successful efforts in suppressing this lengthy insurrection the Hong Kong Police were granted the "Royal" prefix in 1969. HRH Princess Alexandra was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to become the Commandant General of the Royal Hong Kong Police. The prefix was dropped at midnight on 1 July 1997 when China resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong, and the force reverted to the title 'Hong Kong Police'.
Despite loyal and steadfast service and efficiency levels which have grown steadily over 160 years life has not always been rosy. No administration anywhere in the world has ever been free of corruption in varying forms and severity. The spectre of corruption became really prominent in Hong Kong in the 1960s, the Hong Kong Police - as did almost every government department - experienced this and it peaked between 1962-74, involving officers of all ranks and ethnicities. Reasons? Motives and opportunities were many and varied, but chiefly - 'motives' (poor pay and worries about Red China invading and abolishing pensions), and 'opportunities' (Hong Kong was enjoying vibrant economic progress and its industrious, self-starter people were forming thousands of small street-level businesses all ripe for 'protection').
During this time, the police, along with members of departments like Public Works, Fire, Transport 'et al.' all had their own distinct methods of earning illicit income to boost meagre wages. The police were the offenders with the highest profile and took most opprobrium. It took the determined stance of Governor MacLehose together with Commissioner Sutcliffe to instigate the firmest of measures to eradicate syndicated corruption - and the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in 1974 was the prime one. After teething troubles, including a mass walkout by officers in 1977, by the early 1980s a combination of the ICAC, firm police management, better emoluments and an amnesty had succeeded in destroying the overall culture, removing powerful figures, educating against greed and increasing accountability. It would be foolish to deny that there are no corrupt practices in any police force worldwide, but in 1974 Hong Kong set an example to the world and for over 30 years the police in Hong Kong have been as clean as any force in the world - if not cleaner.
Whilst 99% of the 28,000 police force is Hong Kong Chinese, the overall establishment reflects the cosmopolitan nature of Hong Kong. Whilst the recruitment of Europeans ceased in 1994, as of September 2009, there are 185 Europeans in the force from inspector to assistant commissioner, and a handful of officers with Indian, Pakistani, Thai, Singaporean and Malaysian heritage. Moreover, many Chinese officers have resided in countries such as Canada, USA, Australia and UK. New recruits have to satisfy basic academic and language requirements (read and write Chinese and speak fluent Cantonese) as well as be a permanent resident of the Hong Kong SAR.
Up until December 2004, when a year-round blue uniform was adopted the Hong Kong Police had two seasonal uniforms - a green/khaki (buff for women officers) summer uniform and a dark blue tunic for winter, with constables and sergeants wearing blue shirts and more senior staff wearing white ones.
Over the years, the proportion of Chinese staff within the Hong Kong Police, and the numbers of senior staff has increased, for many decades the senior leadership remained exclusively European, though this began to change in the 1970s, and from the first appointment in 1989, the Commissioner of Police (and his deputies) has been a local Chinese.
Responsibility for the prisons passed out of the control of the police in 1879, a separate fire brigade was formed in 1945, and the Hong Kong Police assumed responsibility for immigration and customs & excise duties until 1961 - although the boundary with mainland China is still manned by police and a very high percentage of smuggling interdicted at sea is carried out by marine police.
Ranks and Insignia
The HKPF continues to use similar ranks and insignia to those used in British police forces. Until 1997, the St Edward's Crown was used in the insignia, when it was replaced with the Bauhinia flower crest of the Hong Kong government.
Commissioner of Police (CP) (insignia of a General)
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (insignia of a Lieutenant-General)
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) (insignia of a Major-General)
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) (similar to the old-style rank insignia of a Brigadier)
Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) (insignia of a Colonel)
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) (insignia of a Lieutenant-Colonel)
Superintendent of Police (SP) (insignia of a Major)
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) (insignia of a Captain)
Senior Inspector of Police (SIP) (insignia of a Lieutenant over a bar)
Inspector of Police (IP) (insignia of a Lieutenant)
Probationary Inspector of Police (PI) (insignia of a Second Lieutenant)
Station Sergeant (SSGT) (insignia of a Staff Sergeant)
Sergeant (SGT) (insignia of a Sergeant)
Senior Constable (SPC) (insignia of a Lance-Corporal)
Police Constable (PC) (rank ID number)
Structure
The Force is commanded by the Commissioner of Police who is assisted by two deputy commissioners - a "Deputy Commissioner - Operations" supervises all operational matters including crime - and a "Deputy Commissioner - Management" is responsible for the direction and coordination of the force management including personnel, training and management services.
For day-to-day policing (Operations), the Force is organised into six regions:
Hong Kong Island
Kowloon East
Kowloon West
New Territories North
New Territories South
Marine
The Force Headquarters (Management) is made up of 5 departments:
Operations & Support
Crime & Security
Personnel & Training
Management Services
Finance, Administration and Planning.
Regions are largely autonomous in their day-to-day operation and management matters, and each has its own headquarters, which comprises administration and operation wings, Emergency Units, as well as traffic and criminal investigation units. Each region is divided into districts and divisions and in a few cases sub-divisions. Currently there are 23 districts. The policing of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the main towns of the New Territories follow a similar pattern. Responsibility for law and order on the MTR underground railway, KCR and LRT which runs through several police districts, is vested in the Railway District.
The Marine Region, (AKA the Hong Kong Marine Police) with a fleet of over 145 launches and craft, patrols some 1,850km of waters within Hong Kong including the busy harbour and 244 outlying islands. Shore patrols are regularly mounted to maintain contact with inhabitants of small islands and isolated communities. In addition to normal policing functions, the marine police fleet is also responsible for maintaining effective law and order within Hong Kong waters with particular emphasis on countering illegal immigration and smuggling at sea. Marine Region is also the main agency in the Hong Kong search and rescue organisation for maritime operations within Hong Kong waters.
'A' Department - Operations and Support Wings
Force operational matters are coordinated by Operations & Support Department, which comprises two wings, a traffic headquarters and six regions. The department is charged with the formulation and implementation of policies, the monitoring of activities and the efficient deployment of personnel and resources. Operations Wing coordinates counter terrorism, internal security, anti-illegal immigration measures, bomb disposal commitments and contingency planning for natural disasters and is also responsible for the Police Dog Unit (PDU).
PTU vans standing by for the Hong Kong July 1 marches
The Police Tactical Unit (PTU) is an establishment of six companies comprising 1020 officers each. Their base and training camp is located in Fanling. In each company (under the command of a Superintendent), there are 4 platoons. Led by an Inspector or senior inspector, a platoon comprises 32 officers with 1 station sergeant (senior NCO) and 8 sergeants. The PTU provides an immediate manpower reserve for use in any emergency. PTU companies are attached to all land regions and are available for internal security, crowd management, anti-crime operations and disaster response duties throughout Hong Kong. The PTU also provides up-to-date instruction and training in internal security and crowd management techniques for a wide cross-section of Force members.
The Special Duties Unit (SDU) is a sub-branch of PTU, nicknamed as "Flying Tigers". The unit is split into 3 sections - Training, Administration and Action. The Action Wing is further separated into 3 teams - an Assault Team, a Scuba Team ("Water Ghost" team), and a Sniper Team. The SDU was formally establish in 1974 and originated from the former 'Sharpshooter Team'. Originally the SDU received much training from British Forces Overseas Hong Kong supplemented by visits from Special Air Service (SAS), Royal Marine and Parachute Regiment personnel. After about 15 years, the SDU took on its own training, mainly basing the tactics on British Special Forces techniques but also exchanging ideas with officers from elite units in the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
The Anti-Illegal Immigration Control Centre is responsible for collecting intelligence and monitoring operations in respect of illegal immigrants from the Mainland and Vietnam.
The Support Wing oversees the execution and staffing of operational support matters, including the formulation of operational policies for both the regular and auxiliary forces and for updating kit and equipment. It is also responsible for the various licensing functions of the Force. The coordination of all public relations activities is arranged through the Police Public Relations Branch.
Traffic Headquarters is responsible for formulating force priorities, policies and procedures on matters related to traffic; coordinating their implementation and monitoring their effects. It processes all traffic prosecutions and collects and maintains traffic-related data. Traffic Headquarters offers advice on traffic management matters, examines local traffic patterns and new major infrastructure projects. It also formulates, supports and monitors road safety education and enforcement programmes.
The Transport Division is responsible for the management and deployment of the Force fleet of approximately 2,400 vehicles, driver establishment and the acquisition of new police vehicles. It also administers all policy matters relating to police transport requirements.
The Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force was officially established in 1957 with the merger of the 'special' and 'reserve' formations which had been in intermittent existence since the 1880s. The part-timers were formally established in 1914 when numerous full-time officers returned to Europe to fight in WWI. Today the HKAPF forms a reserve of manpower to assist in times of natural disaster or civil emergency. By today, its approximately 5,000 officers are paid for their part-time support of the regular force and are involved in reinforcing daily duties and performing crowd control duties at public events and festivals. The ability to assist during times of emergency is retained.
Since October 1995 the Hong Kong Police has been responsible for patrolling the border with China. Prior to 1995, the British Army (Regular Army units from 1950s to 1970s, various units of the Brigade of Gurkhas from 1970-1990s and Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) 1979-1995) was responsible for border patrol. Units involved in patrolling the border area include:
Land Boundary Command
District Special Duty Squad of Border District
Officers patrol the entire 28 square kilometres of the Frontier Closed Area and at land crossings at control checkpoints.
'B' Department - Crime and Security Wings
Crime prevention campaign at Causeway Bay station of the MTR.
Crime & Security Department is responsible for the force policy regarding the investigation of crimes and matters of a security nature. Crime Wing consists of a number of operational bureaux and specialised units. The operational bureaux deal with specific areas of criminal activity whereas the specialised units provide support services to operational units in the force and deal with policy matters on various issues including child abuse, domestic violence and witness protection. Security Wing provides VIP protection and security co-ordination, including counterterrorism.
Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) investigates major organised and serious crime involving all ty
