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Smooth-talking negotiators 'save' CLK
Quick thinking and a confident application of subtle negotiation techniques saw the safe release of several "hostages" and the recent passing out of a talented batch of new negotiators for the Force's Police Negotiation Cadre.
The successful counter-terrorist exercise was the culmination of two weeks of intensive lectures and exercises designed to put the new members through their paces and adequately prepare them for the rigours of successful negotiation.
 "You're nicked, laddy!": Officers detain a "terrorist" during the drill at Chek Lap Kok |
The cool-headed talkers used the same equipment and tactics employed in a real hostage situation, such as the Incident Command Centre at the airport.
Several Cadre members were brought in as "terrorists" to provide life-like simulation for the operation, the final phase of the course which covered all aspects of hostage negotiation.
It was the first to be conducted at the new airport at Chek Lap Kok and also, unlike previous years, participants undertook mini-exercises in the evenings.
The PNC has been in existence since 1975 and has grown in strength to cater for the ever-present risk of terrorist activity around the world as well as the ever increasing incidence of suicide and barricaded subject cases. In the last year, 66 calls for PNC assistance were made throughout Hong Kong.
"Negotiation is not a precise science," said OC PNC Peter Morgan, presently the PTS Deputy Commandant.
"It is important to learn the ground rules based on years of experience acquired by law enforcement agencies around the world. Practice is the key to successful negotiating and it is for this reason the candidates are required to undergo extensive exercises to help put the theory into practice."
However, given the limited exposure to serious hostage cases in Hong Kong, the Cadre has been sending selected officers on overseas courses to the FBI in the United States and other police forces where they do get plenty of exposure to these high profile incidents.
"The first thing you learn is that negotiating is not at all like the movies and heroics are absolutely the last thing you need to help calm down the subject and diffuse the situation," said Cadre member, Chief Inspector of the Complaints Against Police Office (Hong Kong Office) Lau Tat-keung who attended the FBI course.
The 16 new recruits quickly learnt this fundamental truth during their own exercises.
 Tarmac trouble: Officers discuss contingency measures during the airport exercise |
That, and plenty of support from their respective team members who are there to assist with strategy, technical advice and good old-fashioned support.
In addition, ample support is often provided by units such as the Psychological Services Group and Communications Branch who bring in their own areas of expertise to bear towards a successful resolution of the incident.
Mr Morgan said the recent restructuring of the PNC over the last year, into a more centralised and dedicated unit working directly to Operations Wing rather than to Regions, has helped considerably in enhancing "esprit de corps" for what is essentially, a volunteer unit with officers performing PNC duties above and beyond their normal work requirements.
This was evidenced recently at the first ever PNC annual dinner with both former and serving members "dining-in" the new recruits at a function held at the PTS Officers' Mess.
With the hostage course now over and the new members assigned to their respective teams, Mr Morgan said the PNC patiently awaits the challenges the future may bring; "Not to mention the sounding of pagers telling members of another call-out requiring their skill and services."
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