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The Hong Kong Police Force (香港警察) (from 1969 to 1997, Royal Hong Kong Police Force (皇家香港警察)) is the police force of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

History

It was April 30, 1841, twelve weeks after the British had landed in Hong Kong, when orders were first given by Captain Charles Elliot to establish a police force in its new colony. The intitial chief was Captain William Caine, who also served as the Chief Magistrate at that time. The Hong Kong Police was officially established by the colonial government on May 1, 1844 after a new law was passed into effect, and the duties of the magistrate and police were separated. The police force consisted of 35 men at its time of establishment. Soon Caucasian officers and Indian (mostly Sikh from Punjab) constables were recruited, later also joined by policemen of Chinese and other races. Policemen from different contingents were assigned different alphabetical letter before their batch numbers: "A" for Europeans, "B" for Indians, "C" for local Chinese who spoke Cantonese, "D" for Chinese recruited from Shandong Province. "E" was later assigned for White Russians who arrived from Siberia after civil war broke out in Russia. The headdress also varied according to ethnicity: the Caucasians 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 means:

"ABCD (the ethnic designation),
Big Head (the turban), Green Coat,
Not catching the person,
Keeps blowing the whistle!"

The legacy continues today: up until December 2004 the HK Police summer uniform was still Khaki green, (The winter uniform is dark blue), a new blue all-year uniform has been adopted for Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) ranking from Constable to Sergeant. Station Sergeant and all Commissioned Officers wear white uniform. (See rankings below)

At first the police officers were unarmed, but they were soon issued with firearms, and modern HK police officers continue to carry them today.

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

During the 1950s and the 1960s officers of many government departments were openly corrupt; attempts to stamp out corruptions 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 case was the Godber's case in 1973. Godber was serving as the Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP). He was found heavily corrupted with fortune of HKD$ 4,377,248 worth. The Police attempted to arrest Godber after searching for his suspicious fortune, yet Godber made use of his permit - specially issued to police officers - which enabled him to evade Immigration control and escape to Singapore on June 8. This provoked the public. In response to this, the Hong Kong Government established the ICAC to combat against corruption. Godber was extradicted from England to stand trial and was sentenced to 4-year-long imprisonment.

In 1967, at the same time as the Cultural Revolution in China, left-wing workers instigated long and bloody riots. The HK Police lost ten men during the turnmoil. For its effort in suppressing the riots in 1967, HK Police was granted the "Royal" title in 1969; this made the Royal Hong Kong Police one of only five in the Commonwealth of Nations which had received this honour.

The HK Police Today

On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty. The HK Police thus removed its "Royal" title, and changed its insignia accordingly. Its structure and mission, however, has remained essentially the same.

As of December 31 2004, the HK Police has 27,754 uniformed personnel, 5,232 civilian officiers plus a backup of about 4,000 Auxiliary police (The Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force, HKAPF) personnel. Apart from the usual law and order and traffic policing duties, the HK Police has the task of patrolling Hong Kong's internal border with mainland China (thus deterring illegal immigrants). It also has the largest water police force in the world, with 147 vessels of various types.

One noteworthy division of the HK Police is the Police Tactical Unit (PTU; Chinese:警察機動部隊, nicknamed 藍帽子 "Blue caps"). Apart from possessing an extremely well-equipped riot police force, the rather well-known Special Duties Unit (SDU; Chinese:特別任務連, nicknamed 飛虎隊 "Flying Tigers") is also under the PTU. Like its SWAT team counterparts in other regions of the world, it is a secretive and elite unit which receives SAS-style training, and is being elevated to the status of superheroes by government propaganda efforts.

On the surface many perceive that local residents trust and respect the police force since the locals often call a police officer (even Police Constables) "Ah Sir" or "Madam". However such "trust" and "respect" to the Hong Kong Police could be only due to the fear injected into the local population by their brtual way of policing, which is comparable to their counterparts in police states. A "distrust" and "disrespectful" attitude to a police officer could immediately lead to a charge of "obstructing police operation", which is used casually as a tool to bully members of public.

It should be noticed that the conviction rates of charges brought by HKP are exceptionally high, due to their expertise on abusing court procedures and fabricating (or destroying evidence). Their "expertise" is confirmed by an ICAC officer, who is in charge of investigation of police-related corruption cases, in a testimonial during an interview by local media ( Traditional Chinese website). Not to say suspects are usually not properly represented in courts, mostly due to high legal costs and lack of available legal aid.

Thus local residents, especially those in working class, refer to the police officers as "licensed thugs" (有牌爛仔 ) privately. Indeed, many members of the force do have some improper behaviors. A book published by the Police fellowship revealed that foul language is prevalence, and habitual gambling is wildspread.

Most police officers speak English with a heavy local accent (It is worth noting, however, that the degree of the accent depends on the English Proficiency of that officer. Some could speak well) and fluent Cantonese. Some also speak Putonghua.

Accountability

The Hong Kong Police has nearly no accountability at all. Unlike their counterpart in democratic countries like United Kingdom where all regional police forces are being governed by a police authority which consists of elected local councilors and local members of public, HKP only reports to the Security Bureau of HKSAR government, headed by appointed civil servants. Members of public have no influence on their local policing policy, and at the meanwhile HKSAR government is not being formed by any democratic mean.

Complains to police are NOT being conducted by an independent body but only by Complaints against Police Office (CAPO), which is part of the HKP institution (Chapter 26, Police General Orders . The Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) is being setup to independently review every case handled by CAPO.

Human Rights Abuses

Heavy-handed and extremely violent tactics is being used on peaceful protesters (see photos on the right hand side) who either protest against local government's policy, or causing embarrassment to the central government of Communist China (e.g. Falun Gong).

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.

(See Amnesty International Press Release Hong Kong: Police must exercise restraint in handling protesters )

There are sayings that the HKP's suboridination to the HKSAR government is the very fact that HKP has to use forces on protestors in a bid to maintain their status or, to a lesser extent, avoid being rebuked by the government. It is also said that the use of tactics are being instructed by the highest hierarchy of government, which is politically motivated.

Suspects are often subjected to the use of torture or perhaps to bluff suspects with charges in order to obtain confessions. Cases on torture and death in custody , while increasing in numbers, are not being properly investigated even in face of heavy criticism by United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Chinese language version). At the meanwhile violent police officers involved are let go lightly by court , assisted by prosecution who intentionally charge them with the lighter offence of grievous bodily harm, instead of torture which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

After the riot in 1967, HKP gained a sweeping power for its officers to stop the person for the purpose of demanding that he produce proof of his identity for inspection by the police office, when he/she finds any person in any street or other public place, or on board any vessel, or in any conveyance, at any hour of the day or night, who acts in a suspicious manner (Cap 232 s 54 Police Force Ordinance(PFO), see for details.).

This power is generally considered controversial. Whether or not Suspicious manner is solely on the determination of the police officer, and members of public in blonde hair, 'suspicious' dress style, new immigrants who don't look like locals, and ethnic minorities are much more likely subject to intimidation by rogue police officers. However, in the book Criminal Procedure in Hong Kong (Published by Longman, ISBN 962-00-4013-9), the writer suggested that the police officer must be able to articulate how the person was behaving such that it could be reasonbly suspicious. Also to note is that-

the only things police are authorized to do by s54 PFO is to seek production of proof of identity, detain for a reasonble period while police records enquiries are bing made, and search only as appropriate. Quite litmited search powers only may be exercised under S54 PFO.

(Page 23, Criminal Procedure in Hong Kong)

Compliants being made to CAPO are being handled casually and outcomes are mostly biased towards HKP. While the official mission of Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) is to independently review every case handled by, in fact it only acts as a de facto rubber stamp - it has no investigative power, nor even hear appeals to CAPO rulings. The rulings of CAPO is seldom being challenged by IPCC.

Calls for reform , from both local non-government organisations, political parties as well as the UNCHR, have gone into deaf ears of HKSAR government. These calls are strongly opposed by the police officer trade unions, who view civil liberty and human rights with utter contempt from the very beginning.

See Police brutality and Police state

Special Branch

The Special Branch of Royal Hong Kong Police, ancestor of HKP, was disbanded in 1995 prior to the transfer of sovereignty.

See Special Branch

The Basic Law Article 23 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) are granted searching without warrant under some circumstances. (See Pp. 9-10) The third amentment of the bill made by the Government, however, was no longer granting the HKPF to do so. (See Pp. 12-13)

This amentment is only being offered in face of mass protest against HKSAR Government in 1 July 2003, when over 500,000 members of public marched against the bill. And the bill finally being withdrawn in face of wildspread public discontent (including many other reasons and are not limited to the potential HKP overpowering alone) across the territory.

Commissioners of Police

The Commissioner is the head of the Hong Kong Police.

(Chief Magistrates)

• 1841 Captain William Caine
• 1844(Feb) Captain Haly
• 1844(March) Cpatain Bruce

(Captain-Superintendants)

• 1845 Charles May
• 1862 William Quin
• 1866 Walter Deane
• 1892 Major-General Alexander Adam
• 1893 Francis May
• 1902 Joseph Badeley
• 1913 Charles Messer
• 1918 Edward Wolfe

(Inspector General)

• 1930 Edward Wolfe
• 1934 Thomas King

(Commissioners)

• 1938 Thomas King
• 1941 John Pennefather-Evans
• 1946 Colonel C.H. Samson
• 1946 Duncan McIntosh
• 1953 Arthur Maxwell
• 1959 Henry Heath
• 1966 Edward Tyrer
• 1967 Edward Eates
• 1969 Charles Sutcliffe
• 1974 Brian Selvin
• 1979 Roy Henry
• 1982 Ray Anning
• 1987 Lee Kwan Ha
• 1992 Hui Ki On
• 2001 Tsang Yam Pui
• 2003 Lee Ming-kwai

Rankings

Rank(Eng)/Rank(Chinese) - Rank(Abbreviated English) - Chinese alias(If available)

Commissioned Officers

1. Commissioner 處長 (CP - 一哥)
2. Deputy Commissioner 副處長 (DCP)
3. Senior Assistant Commissioner 高級助理處長 (SACP)
4. Assistant Commissioner 助理處長 (ACP - 水泡)
5. Chief Superintendent 總警司 (CSP - 一拖二)
6. Senior Superintendent 高級警司 (SSP - 一拖一/蛇蛇P)
7. Superintendent 警司 (SP)
8. Chief Inspector 總督察 (CIP - 總幫)
9. Senior Inspector 高級督察 (SIP - 大幫)
10. Inspector 督察 (IP - 幫辦)
11. Probationary Inspector 見習督察 (PI - 朱粒)

Non-commisioned Officers

1. Station Sergeant 警署警長 (SSGT - 士沙)
2. Sergeant 警長 (SGT - 三柴/沙展)
3. Senior Constable 高級警員 (SPC - 一柴/安慰柴)
4. Constable 警員 (PC - 散仔)

Organization Structure of HKPF

See also

• Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force

External links

• Hong Kong Police
• History of Hong Kong Police
• Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor
• Independent Police Compliants Council

• Law enforcement in Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Government
• Law enforcement agencies
• Public health and safety in Hong Kong
• Lists of Hong Kong-related topics