To enhance public safety by strengthening the inspection mechanism under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance, Police Licensing Office (PLO) has recommended a risk-based two-tier inspection mechanism (non-scheduled and pre-arranged inspection) commensurate with the potential risks of the types of arms concerned. On January 10, PLO offered a briefing on the new inspection mechanism to over 100 frontline officers in the auditorium of Police Headquarters.

 

At the briefing, Superintendent (Licensing) Au Yeung Mun-yee said: "Public safety is a shared vision between the police and the public. The successful implementation of the mechanism lies in the co-operation between our inspection officers and the arms licensees. Our officers are entrusted with the responsibility to engage the arms licensees as partners."

 

Acting Chief Inspector Raymond Lee gave a presentation on the background of the arms licensing review and highlighted the need to further improve arms licensing control with an enhanced inspection mechanism.  He then explained the guiding principles of the mechanism with emphasis on the importance of  "short notice" to facilitate an effective non-scheduled inspection.

 

FPM 31-08 on "Arms Licensing" has been amended and will be promulgated next month. The two-tier inspection mechanism is scheduled to roll out on March 1.