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Revision as of 17:11, 16 April 2006

File:Hongkongpolicelogo.png
Logo of the Hong Kong Police Force

The Hong Kong Police Force (Chinese: 香港警察; pinyin: Xiāng Gǎng jǐngchá since 1997) is the police force of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. It is the successor of the former Royal Hong Kong Police Force (Chinese: 皇家香港警察; pinyin: Huángjiā Xiāng Gǎng jǐngchá) which existed from 1969 to 1997. It is under the direction of the Secretary for Security who heads the Security Bureau.

Overview

A woman asking a policeman for directions.

The Hong Kong Police Force has distinguished itself as one of the oldest yet most modern police forces in the world. Formed in 1842 with a total strength of 35, the force evolved from an extremely broad-based role (with responsibilities that included firefighting, prisons, and immigration), to that of a traditional police service, with only law enforcement responsibilities. As of November 2004, the Force had a strength of 26,787; 86.9% of officers were men and 13.1% were women officers. It also had a backup of 5,088 civilian staff. The Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force was originally formed in 1914 as a reserve to assist in times of natural disaster or civil emergency. As of November 1, 2004, 4,108 volunteer citizens supported the regular force to perform crowd control duties at public events and festivals. The ability to assist during times of emergency is retained. Police in Hong Kong operate within the traditional constabulary concept of preserving life and property, preventing and detecting crime and keeping the peace, with a strong emphasis on enlisting community support. In times of emergency the force has a paramilitary capability.

History

Royal Hong Kong Police badge, 1969–1997

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 chief 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 headdress also varied according to ethnicity: the whites wore the Pickelhaube (later replaced by the kepi), the Indians wore the turban, and the Chinese wore a form of straw hat. All of them, however, shared the same green uniform. These are best described by a well-known Cantonese phrase.

ABCD,
大頭綠衣,
捉人唔到,
猛吹BB!

Which translates to:

ABCD,
Big Head [the turban], Green Coat (combined, the entire phrase means police),
Can't catch the person [the thief],
Keeps blowing the whistle!

Up until December 2004, the HK Police summer uniform was still khaki green, with the winter uniform being dark blue). A new blue all-year uniform has now been adopted for non-commissioned officers (NCOs) ranking from constable to sergeant. Station sergeants and all commissioned officers wear white uniforms.

At first the police officers were unarmed, but they were soon issued with firearms.

Over the years, the proportion of Chinese staff within the HK Police has increased, although for many decades the senior leadership remained exclusively British. Female police officers were introduced soon after World War II.

From 1942 to 1944, the force was suspended and policing was performed by the Japanese Kempeitai and gendarmerie.

During the 1950s and the 1960s many officers were openly corrupt; attempts to stamp out corruption had largely failed, until the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong (ICAC) in 1974. Since then, the HK Police has consistently been ranked one of the "cleanest" in Asia, probably second only to Singapore.

One of the most astonishing corruption cases was the Godber case in 1973. Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Peter Fitzroy Godber, in contrast to his heroic work on the front lines of the 1967 riots, was found to have acquired a fortune of HK$4,377,248 (about US$600,000). When the police attempted to arrest Godber, he made use of a special police permit which enabled him to evade immigration control and escape to Singapore on June 8. In response to a public outcry, the Hong Kong Government established the ICAC to combat corruption. Godber was extradited from England to stand trial and was sentenced to 4 years in prison[1].

In 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 turnmoil. For its efforts in suppressing the riots in 1967, the HK Police were granted the "Royal" prefix in 1969; this makes the Royal Hong Kong Police one of only five forces in the Commonwealth of Nations which have received this honour. The prefix was dropped only after 1 July, 1997 when China resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong. The force has since been renamed Hong Kong Police.

Structure

The Force is commanded by the Commissioner of Police who is assisted by two deputy Commissioners. One deputy Commissioner supervises all operational matters and the other is responsible for the direction and coordination of the management of the Force, including personnel, training and management services.

The Force Headquarters is made up of five 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:

The 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, and 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 follows a similar pattern. Responsibility for law and order on the MTR underground railway, which runs through several police districts, is vested in the Mass Transit Railway District. The 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. This involves the control of some 13,000 local craft, pleasure boats and ferries and a maritime population of 14100. 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 one of the main agencies in the Hong Kong search and rescue organisation geared towards maritime operations both within and outside Hong Kong waters.

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. The 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. Under 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 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. 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.

The Traffic Headquarters is responsible for formulating Force priorities, policies and procedures on traffic matters, coordinates their implementation and monitors their effects. It processes all traffic prosecutions and collects and maintains traffic-related data. The Traffic Headquarters offers advice on traffic management matters, monitors local traffic schemes and new major infrastructure projects. It also formulates, supports and monitors road safety educational and enforcement programmes.

The 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.

Crime and security

File:Hkpf-prevention.JPG
Crime prevention campaign at Causeway Bay station of the MTR.

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. The Security Wing provides VIP protection and security co-ordination, including counterterrorism.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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 arising out of the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance, Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance.

The 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.

The |Crime Prevention Bureau provides advisory security services to the Government, commerce and industry, and the public in general.

The Support Group is made up of units which provide a technical and professional service to support criminal investigation, including the Criminal Records Bureau, the Identification Bureau, the Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau, the Witness Protection Unit and the Child Protection Policy Unit. The group also fulfils a liaison responsibility for the Forensic Pathology Service and the Forensic Science Division.

Day-to-day regional police operations are coordinated at the four regional command and control centres which are computer-assisted. They serve as information centres, monitoring all events in the regions and keeping police headquarters and other government departments informed, and provide additional resources and specialist services when required. Regular patrols are carried out by Uniform Branch beat constables and vehicles of the Emergency Units. Response time in emergencies is kept to an absolute minimum by means of a beat radio system which enables close contact with regional controllers and all patrol officers. Regional traffic units are responsible for road accident investigation, road safety and day-to-day traffic enforcement. A Traffic Warden Corps assists in enforcing laws relating to parking offences and in regulating traffic.

Personnel and training

A Hong Kong police van

The Personnel Wing is responsible for all core human resource management functions, including recruitment, promotion, conditions of service, staff relations and welfare matters. The Training Wing sets the overall training policy and coordinates all Force-wide training courses, including recruit and continuation training, crime investigation training, police driving training and weapon tactics training at the Police Training School, which is located in Wong Chuk Hang, in the Southern District near Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island. The information technology training, command training, local and overseas management training, some specialist courses and periodic courses on firearms and first aid are provided by the Training Wing.

Management services

The Information Systems Wing has two branches and one bureau dealing with communications, information technology and business services. The 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.

The 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.

The 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, by identifying issues which may have strategic policy significance and conducting research and inspections to seek out the best practice. The C&II Branch which includes the Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO) oversees the investigation and successful resolution of all complaintsmade 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 are fully and impartially investigated.

Finance, administration and planning

The Finance Wing is responsible for the financial management, stores and internal audit of the Force. The Administration Wing is responsible for civilian staff, Force establishment matters and the management of the Police Museum. The 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 the construction of new police buildings/facilities and maintaining/modernising the police estate. Major projects include building a new Police Headquarters, which was completed in 2004, and the construction of a new New Territories South Regional Headquarters and a police post at the Penny's Bay Disneyland Theme Park, both to be operational by 2005. Also in progress is the construction of a new operational base for the Marine Police Outer Waters District and Marine North Police Division which is scheduled to be completed in 2006. P&D is also involved in the planning and construction of the police facilities for the Boundary Crossing Point located at the East Rail Extension of Lok Ma Chau and Dongjiaotou, Shekou, both are due for completion by 2006.

Accountability

Complaints against police officers are handled by the Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO). CAPO is not independent, but is part of the HKP (Chapter 26, Police General Orders [2]). The Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) has been set up to independently review every case handled by CAPO.

Complaints made to CAPO are handled casually and that outcomes are mostly biased towards the HKP. While the official mission of the IPCC is to independently review every case handled by CAPO, in fact its only act as a de facto rubber stamp — it has no investigative power, nor even the power to hear appeals to CAPO rulings. The rulings of CAPO are seldom challenged by the IPCC.

Calls for reform [3], from local NGOs and political parties, as well as the UNCHR, have fallen on deaf ears. These calls are strongly opposed by the police trades unions.

Controversy

The additional power given to the Hong Kong Police Force in the Basic Law Article 23 legislation regarding national security was highly controversial. According to the National Security (Legistlation Provisions) Bill, "a police officer of or above the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP)" was granted the power to search without a warrant under some circumstances (see [4], pp. 9–10). The third amendment to the bill made by the Government, however, removed this power (see [5], pp. 12–13).

This amendment was made in the face of mass protests against the HKSAR on 1 July 2003, when over 500,000 members of the public marched against the bill. The bill was finally withdrawn in the face of widespread public discontent (for many reasons, not restricted to the powers of the HKPF) across the territory.

The force has also been criticized by some human rights groups for the use of excessive force in handling protestors. In 2002, Amnesty International cited the use of force in an incident at Chater Garden where more than 350 police and immigrations officers stormed a group of 200 protesters. The protesters had been peacefully staging rallies against the Court of Final Appeal ruling that the majority of 5,114 people seeking residence in the territory did not have right to stay in Hong Kong and should return to the Chinese mainland. [6]

Sixth Ministerial Conference

Main article: MC6
Tension between protestors and police at Gloucester Road in the morning on 2005-12-18.

The police force was blamed for using what the NGOs claimed "excessive violence".

The use of pepper spray sparked some criticism on December 13 2005, when protestors and riot police had their first clash at Hung Hing Road (Chinese: 鴻興道) Protest Area. NGOs and critics casted doubt on whether the police use of OC Spray was justified, provided "The protestors were simply orchestrating a scenario that aimed at stealing limelight".

At December 17 2005, there were spates of clashes at Hung Hing Road again. The police guarding the cordon, using Fire Services Department hoses, made several attempts to disperse protestors with fire hose. It was, however, reported that the protestors did not attempt to assault the cordon when they were sprayed with sea water.

At Gloucester Road where the riot police unleashed canisters of CS gas, reports alleged that insufficient warning were given in advance, reporters and citizens were affected as a result.

Apart from these, the deployment of Tango Coy, a PTU company comprising only female officers, at the forefront was considered a tactic to discourage Korean protestors from attacking the police.

However, at the end of the Conference, the majority of Hong Kong's public stated support for the police action and criticism was limited to a few vocal critics.

Chiefs of Police

Main article: Commissioner of Police (Hong Kong)

Regions, districts and divisions

  • 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

A complete list can be found in the Telephone Directory of the HKSAR government's website.

Notes

  • All regions report to Director of Operations, who ranks Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP).
  • Regional HQ is led by a Regional Commander(RC) ranking Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
  • District is led by a District Commander(DC) ranking Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP)
  • Division is led by a Divisional Commander(DVC) ranking Superintendent of Police (SP).
  • Railway District is suboridinate to the Kowloon East HQ. In addition, Both Railway Report Centre and Railway Tsing Yi Police Control Room are subordinate to the Railway District.

Ranks

See Organization Structure of the HKPF

Commissioned Officers

Gazetted police officer:

  • Commissioner (CP) 處長 (一哥)
  • Deputy Commissioner (DCP) 副處長
  • Senior Assistant Commissioner (SACP) 高級助理處長
  • Assistant Commissioner (ACP) 助理處長 (水泡)
  • Chief Superintendent (CSP) 總警司 (一拖二)
  • Senior Superintendent (SSP) 高級警司 (一拖一 / 蛇蛇P)
  • Superintendent (SP) 警司

Inspectors:

  • Chief Inspector (CIP) 總督察 (總幫)
  • Senior Inspector (SIP) 高級督察 (大幫)
  • Inspector (IP) 督察 (幫辦)
  • Probationary Inspector (PI) 見習督察 (朱粒)

Non-Commissioned Officers

  • Station Sergeant (SSGT) 警署警長 (士沙)
  • Sergeant (SGT) 警長 (三柴 / 沙展)
  • Senior Constable (SPC) 高級警員 (一柴 / 安慰柴)
  • Constable (PC) 警員 (散仔)

Fleet

File:Fleet of HKPF.jpg
Fleet of Hong Kong Police.

A list of current and past vehicles of HKPF:

Examples of each vehicle type

See also

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