Hong Kong Island (HKI) Region regularly organises experience-sharing seminars with a view to beefing up the ability of frontline officers to take on challenges. In view of the developments and trends of recent public events, HKI Senior Superintendent (SSP) (Operations) Cheng Yiu-mo has been holding a series of Management of Public Order Events Experience-Sharing Seminar since August this year.

 

Each of the first two sessions of seminar attracted about 50 inspectorate officers from districts on Hong Kong Island. During the seminar, the duties and responsibilities of the police, legal basis, and the court cases that have profound impacts on public events were discussed. SSP Cheng explained police powers and responsibilities and conducted exercises on what officers should be aware of while imposing conditions in drafting Letter of No Objection for a public event.  He also shared his experience of the difficulties he came across and the solutions he adopted while policing public events.

 

HKI Regional Commander Li Kin-fai attended the second session and reminded the audience that police duties were full of challenges in recent years, in particular the policing of public events.  Therefore, frontline inspectorate officers had to equip themselves with relevant knowledge and skills so that they would be able to discharge duties in a professional and efficient manner. 

 

In conclusion, SSP Cheng said: "I hope the seminar would give inspectors a better understanding of their powers and responsibilities of policing public events and boost their confidence and efficiency for such job."

 

At the seminar, Chief Inspector (Operations) San Tze-kin also spoke of his experience of policing public events. 

 

Officers' feedback on the seminar was favourable. Police Tactical Unit Platoon Commander Yuen Wing-hong said: "I got a better idea of the legal bases of the actions the Force took in public events."

 

North Point Division Task Force Commander Ko Lo-wang said he would be more confident in handling public events.

 

Superintendent Young Chi-man from Emergency Unit HKI pointed out that the seminar not only provided essential and practical skills and knowledge for inspectorate officers, but also offered a platform for Force management and frontline inspectors to share experiences, enabling commanders to appreciate the concerns and difficulties of inspectors.  

 

The topics of the third seminar will include Dealing with Public Expectation, Public Relations and Experience-sharing about Co-operation with the Media at the Scene.