Hong Kong Police Force
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The Hong Kong Police Force (Chinese: 香港警察; pinyin: Xiānggǎng Jǐngchá ) (Romanised Cantonese "Heung Gong Ging Chaat") is the police force of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. Between 1969 and 1997, it was named Royal Hong Kong Police Force(Romanised Cantonese "Wong Ga Heung Gong Ging Chaat") (Chinese: 皇家香港警察; pinyin: Huángjiā Xiānggǎng Jǐngchá). The Commissioner of Police reports to the Secretary for Security, who is responsible for all security services in Hong Kong.
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[edit] Overview
The Hong Kong Police Force has distinguished itself as one of the oldest yet most modern police forces in the world. Formed in 1844 with a strength of 35, the force evolved from an extremely broad-based role (with responsibilities that included fire-fighting, prisons, customs and immigration), to that of a traditional police service, with mostly civic responsibilities - although the force is still heavily committed to countering illegal immigration and smuggling. As of December 31 2005, the Force had a strength of 26,512. It also had a backup of 4,879 civilian staff.
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 HKAP forms a reserve of manpower to assist in times of natural disaster or civil emergency. As of December 31, 2005, its 3,968 members 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.
The police in Hong Kong operate under local legislation and British common law and within the traditional constabulary concept of preserving life and property, preventing and detecting crime and keeping the peace. For times of emergency the force has a paramilitary capability.
[edit] History
On April 30, 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 May 1, 1844, and the duties of the magistrate and head of police were separated. At the time of its establishment the police force consisted of 35 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 HK 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 HK 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. HK's pre-war population of 1.6m had dwindled to 600,000 by 1945.
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 HK 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 HK's 40-yr rise to global eminence. Throughout this period the HKP has successfully tackled many issues that have challenged HK's stability. Between 1949-89 HK has experienced several waves of immigration from mainland China, 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 HK 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.
Most serious though were the riots. 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-inspired riots broke out over a price rise on the Star Ferry; and following this instance in spring 1967, at the time of the Cultural Revolution in China, left-wing workers instigated long and bloody riots. The HK Police lost ten men during the turmoil which saw a 10-month campaign of bombing and murder. For its determined and successful efforts in suppressing this lengthy insurrection the HKP were granted the "Royal" prefix in 1969; this made the Royal Hong Kong Police one of only five forces in the Commonwealth of Nations to receive this honour and 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 steadfast service and efficiency levels which have grown steadily over 160 years life has not always been rosey. No administration anywhere in the world has ever been free of corruption in varying forms and severity. The spectre of corruption became prominent in HK in the 1960s, the HKP - 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 and varied, but mainly - 'motives' (poor pay and worries about Red China invading and abolishing pensions), and 'opportunities' (HK 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. The police were the offenders with the highest profile and 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 is no corruption in any police force, but Hong Kong set an example to the world and for over 20 years the police in HK have been as clean as any force in the world - if not cleaner.
Whilst 99% of the 27,000 strong force is HK Chinese, the overall establishment certainly reflects the cosmopolitan nature of HK, as of 2006 there are approximately 275 Europeans in the force from inspector up to senior assistant commissioner, there are handfuls of officers with Indian, Pakistani, Thai, Singaporean and Malaysian heritage, and more than a few Chinese officers were born, brought-up and/or educated overseas in UK, Canada, USA and elsewhere. In theory there is nothing to prevent the recruitment of another European officer as long as he/she can fluently read, write and speak Cantonese Chinese.
Up until December 2004, when a year-round blue uniform was adopted the HK 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 HK 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.
All in all, after a difficult start, officers of the Hong Kong Police have made vital broad and constant contributions to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and its people. Responsibility for the prisons passed out of the control of the police in 1879, a separate fire brigade was formed in 1945, and the HKP assumed responsibility for immigration and customs and excise duties until 1961 - although the boundary with China is still manned by police and a very high percentage of smuggling interdicted at sea is carried out by marine police. Hong Kong is prone to disaster caused by wind and rain and thousands of lives have been saved over the years, conversely, hundreds of officers have died in the line of duty through foul means, disease, war and accidents. For many years now HK's close to 7m inhabitants have resided in the safest city in the world and have the benefit of a responsive and effective police service.
[edit] Structure
The Force is commanded by the Commissioner of Police who is assisted by two deputy commissioners - one supervises all operational matters - including crime - and the other is responsible for the direction and coordination of the force management including personnel, training and management services.
The Force Headquarters is made up of 5 departments:
- Operations
- Crime and Security
- Personnel and Training
- Management Services
- Finance, Administration and Planning.
For day-to-day policing, the Force is organised into six regions:
- Hong Kong Island
- Kowloon East
- Kowloon West
- New Territories North
- New Territories South
- Marine
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, 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 Rail Transport District. Marine Region, with a fleet of over 145 launches and craft, patrols some 1,850km² 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.
[edit] Operations
Force operational matters are coordinated by the Operations 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.
The Police Tactical Unit (PTU) has an establishment of six companies comprising 1020 officers. 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. 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. 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". There are about 100 team members in SDU including 1 senior superintendent , 6 chief inspectors , 5 inspectors, 4 station sergeants, 24 sergeants and 60 constables]]. The unit is split into 3 sections Training, Administration and Action. Action Wing is separated into 3 teams, Assault Team, Scuba Team ("Water Ghost" team), and Sniper Team. SDU was formally establish in 1974 and originated from the former 'Sharpshooter Team'. Originally SDU received much training from British Forces Hong Kong supplemented by visits from Special Air Service(SAS), Royal Marine or Parachute Regiment personnel. After about 15yrs SDU began training themselves, mainly basing its tactics on British special forces but also exchanging ideas with officers from elite units of USA, Australia and NZ.
The Anti-Illegal Immigration Control Centre is responsible for collecting intelligence and monitoring operations in respect of illegal immigrants from the Mainland and Vietnam.
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 traffic matters; 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, examiness local traffic schemes and new major infrastructure projects. It also formulates, supports and monitors road safety educational and enforcement programmes.
Transport Division is responsible for the management and deployment of the Force vehicle fleet of approximately 2,400 vehicles, the driver establishment and the acquisition of new police vehicles. It also administers all policy matters relating to police transport requirements.
[edit] Crime and Security
The Crime and 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 specialized 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; also known as "O記") investigates major organised and serious crime involving all types of activities such as theft/smuggling of vehicles, human trafficking, firearms, vice, debt collection, syndicated gambling and extortion. It also investigates triad societies and their hierarchies with particular emphasis on their involvement in organised crime.
Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB) is the Force's central coordinating body for intelligence on crime and criminality which, after analysis and assessment, is disseminated to crime investigation units as required. In addition, the CIB works closely with the OCTB and other Crime Wing bureaux in tackling triad and organised crime syndicates. To strengthen the criminal intelligence capability within the Force, the Bureau also organises related training courses and seminars for investigators.
Commercial Crime Bureau investigates serious commercial and business fraud, computer-related crimes, the forgery of monetary instruments, identity documents and payment cards, and the counterfeiting of currency and coins. It liaises very closely with international law enforcement agencies on exchange of intelligence and in actioning requests for investigation from other jurisdictions alleging criminal conduct in relation to commercial transactions.
Narcotics Bureau investigates serious drug cases such as importation and manufacture of illicit drugs, and gathers intelligence in relation to major drug activities. It also conducts investigations in partnership with overseas law enforcement agencies whenever there is a Hong Kong connection to international drug trafficking. The Bureau is also responsible for financial investigations using powers granted under the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance, Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance.
Liaison Bureau coordinates all police-related inquiries from overseas police organisations and local consular officials. It also represents the force in Interpol (the International Criminal Police Organization or ICPO) as a sub-bureau of the China National Central Bureau.
Crime Prevention Bureau provides advisory security services to the Government, commerce and industry, and the public in general.
Support Group is made up of units which provide a technical and professional service to support criminal investigation, including Criminal Records Bureau', Identification Bureau, Firearms Examination Bureau, Witness Protection Unit and Child Protection Policy Unit. The group also fulfils a liaison responsibility for the Forensic Pathology Service and the Forensic Science Division.
[edit] Personnel and Training
Personnel Wing is responsible for all core human resource management functions, including recruitment, promotion, conditions of service, staff relations and welfare matters.
The Hong Kong Police College is responsible for all matters relating to training within the Hong Kong Police except internal security, Auxiliary and Marine Police training. Training provided by the Police College includes recruit and continuation training, crime investigation training, police driver training and weapon tactics training. The information technology training, command training, local and overseas management training, some specialist courses and periodic courses on firearms and first aid are also provided by the Police College.
[edit] Management Services
Information Systems Wing has two branches and one bureau dealing with communications, information technology and business services. Communications Branch designs, acquires, examines and maintains all force communications networks and equipment including radio, video, navigational aids, speed detection radar, mobile phones, pagers, office telephones and mini firing range equipment.
The Information Technology Branch is responsible for the planning, development, implementation, operation and maintenance of information technology systems. It has over 10,000 terminals installed throughout Hong Kong supporting the Force in the spheres of command and control, criminal records, crime intelligence analysis, fingerprint identification, reports to Police, human and financial resources planning and management, transport management, licencing, and e-mail.
Business Services Bureau coordinates the business needs of the five departments of the Force. It consists of the Business Services Division, the e-Police Division and the Major Systems Division which acts as the System "Owner" for systems used Force-wide.
Service Quality Wing is responsible for spearheading initiatives to improve services provided to force customers both external and internal. The wing comprises three branches: Performance Review, Research and Inspections and Complaints and Internal Investigations (C&II). The Wing is responsible for implementing the force strategy on 'service quality' which aims at promoting efficiency, effectiveness and economy, whilst pursuing continuous improvement. The C&II Branch which includes the Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO) oversees the investigation and successful resolution of all complaints made both externally and internally against members of the force. The work of CAPO is closely monitored by the Independent Police Complaints Council to ensure that all complaints against police officers and traffic wardens are fully and impartially investigated. The findings of CAPO are seldom challenged by the IPCC.
[edit] Finance, Administration and Planning
Finance Wing is responsible for the financial management, stores and internal audit of the Force. Administration Wing is responsible for civilian staff, force establishment matters and the management of the Police Museum. Planning and Development Branch (P&D) coordinates strategic thinking and planning on options for the operational policing of Hong Kong into the foreseeable future. It is responsible for maintaining and modernising the police estate and for running projects for the construction of new police buildings/facilities.
[edit] Regions, districts and divisions
- Hong Kong Island Regional HQ (HKI)
- Eastern District
- North Point Division
- Chai Wan Division
- Wan Chai District
- Wan Chai Division
- Happy Valley Division
- Central District
- Western District
- Eastern District
- Kowloon East Regional HQ (KE)
- Sau Mau Ping District
- Sau Mau Ping Division
- Ngau Tau Kok Division
- Wong Tai Sin District
- Wong Tai Sin Division
- Sai Kung Division
- Kwun Tong District
- Kwun Tong Division
- Tseung Kwan O Division
- Sau Mau Ping District
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- Railway District
- Kwun Tong Line
- Tsuen Wan Line
- Island Line
- Lantau and Airport Railway
- East Rail Line
- West Rail Line
- Railway District
- Kowloon West Regional HQ (KW)
- Yau Tsim District
- Yau Ma Tei Division
- Tsim Sha Tsui Division
- Mong Kok District HQ
- Sham Shui Po District
- Sham Shui Po Division
- Cheung Sha Wan Division
- Kowloon City District
- Kowloon City Division
- Hung Hom Division
- Yau Tsim District
- New Territories North Regional HQ (NTN)
- Tai Po District
- Tai Po Division
- Sheung Shui Division
- Tuen Mun District
- Tuen Mun Division
- Castle Peak Division
- Yuen Long District
- Yuen Long Division
- Tin Shui Wai Division
- Pat Heung Division
- Border District
- Sha Tau Kok Division
- Ta Kwu Ling Division
- Lok Ma Chau Division
- Tai Po District
- New Territories South Regional HQ (NTS)
- Kwai Tsing District
- Kwai Chung Division
- Tsing Yi Division
- Shatin District
- Sha Tin Division
- Tin Sum Division
- Ma On Shan Division
- Lantau District
- Lantau North Division
- Discovery Bay Police Post
- Lantau South Division
- Lantau South Divisional Police Station
- Airport District
- Kwai Tsing District
- Marine Regional HQ
- Marine Outer Waters District
- Marine East Division
- Marine North Division
- Marine West Division
- Marine Port District
- Marine Harbour Division
- Marine South Division
- Cheung Chau Division
- Marine Outer Waters District
A complete list can be found in the Telephone Directory of the HKSAR government's website.
[edit] Notes
- All regions report to the Director of Operations, who has the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP)
- Regional Headquarters are headed by a Regional Commander (RC), with the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)
- Districts are led by a District Commander (DC), with the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP)
- Divisions are led by a Divisional Commander (DVC), with the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP)
- Railway District is subordinate to the Kowloon East Regional HQ.
[edit] Ranks
See Organization Structure of the HKPF
[edit] Fleet
A list of current and past vehicles of HKPF:
- Alvis Saracen APC (all retired)
- Bedford TJ (all retired)
- BMW R850RT
- Ford Granada (all retired)
- Ford Mondeo
- Ford Transit
- Ford Econovan MAXI
- GKN Saxon AT105
- Honda CB250
- Honda CBX750P
- Honda VFR800P
- Hyundai Atos
- Hyundai Trajet
- Isuzu Trooper
- Isuzu NKR (all retired)
- Isuzu NPR
- Isuzu FTR
- Isuzu LT133 / LT134
- Landrover Series III(all retired)
- Land Rover Defender 90 / 110 / three-axle
- Land Rover Discovery
- Leyland DAF 400 (all retired)
- MAN Bus (unknown chassis type)
- MAN LE14.224
- Mazda 323
- Mazda FAMILIA
- Mazda Capella
- Mazda 626
- Mazda 6
- Mazda 929
- Mazda Bongo E2000
- Mercedes-Benz T1 310
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 314
- Mercedes-Benz T2 609D / 711D
- Mercedes-Benz Vario 814D / 815D
- Mercedes-Benz SK Series 2527
- Mercedes-Benz Actros 1831
- Mercedes-Benz Bus (unknown chassis type)
- Mitsubishi Super Exceed
- Mitsubishi Pajero
- Mitsubishi Canter
- Mitsubishi Rosa
- Mitsubishi Fuso Bus (BM chassis)
- Nissan Tiida
- Nissan Urvan E24
- Nissan UD PKC212
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Prius
- Toyota Echo Verso
- Toyota Dyna (all retired)
- Toyota Coaster
- Volkswagen Passat
- Volvo S70
Examples of each vehicle type
 Alvis Saracen APC |
 GKN Saxon AT105 |
 Honda CBX750P |
 Isuzu Trooper with Nightscan |
 Land Rover Defender 110 |
 Mazda Capella |
 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter |
 Mitsubishi Canter |
 Toyota Coaster |
 Toyota Dyna |
 Volvo S70 |
[edit] See also
- Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force
- Hong Kong Government Flying Service
- Hong Kong Fire Services Department
- Police Tactical Unit
- PAP-China
- Macau Security Force
