Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung had two special guests in one of his garden parties recently, retired Superintendent (SP) Michael Ko Chun and his wife, Eleanor.  CP learned of Mr Ko's name during a conversation with Mr Ko's daughter, Ms Teresa Ko, when she took the salute at a passing-out parade at Police College on November 15 last year as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service.

 

Taking up the story, the Staff Officer to CP, Dave Fremaux, told OffBeat, "Even though Mr Ko had retired a few years before the Commissioner joined the Force, such was his renown that the Commissioner got to hear about him when he was serving in the Narcotics Bureau in the eighties. Mr Ko had, by all accounts, been famous for working his way up from the rank of corporal and, after a superb career, leaving the Force to work as a lawyer.  Of course, when Mr Ko joined the Force, progressing through the ranks like this was almost unheard of."

 

Speaking at the garden party, Mr Ko recalled, "Well, I joined the Force in 1950 and I couldn't speak a word of English at the time.  So, I took it upon myself to study English in my spare time and, after a few years, I managed to secure the necessary qualifications for the inspectorate.  Of course, in those days, there was no formal entry scheme to the inspectorate from the rank and file, so I wrote to the Commissioner and asked if the Force would consider me.

 

"Imagine my surprise when, three weeks later, a Headquarter Order came out asking for applications to the inspectorate from suitably qualified officers from the rank and file.  Well, I applied and was lucky enough to pass the English test - there were 100 or so applicants, you see, and only 13 of us passed.  This test was the only one that we had to pass. 

 

"The year was 1954 and, to distinguish us from other courses under training, we were called 'cadets'.  In order to ensure no visible difference in rank between all the trainees, we first had to remove our corporal or sergeant badges of rank.  So people knew that we were cadets. We were issued a white cloth strap to wear around our cap, but, as this looked like we were going to a funeral, it was removed.  Instead, each of us was issued a smaller piece of white cloth, which we would wear on our shoulders to cover our service numbers.  After six months training as cadets, we returned to our original units with our original ranks restored.  We then waited and waited........."

 

Mr Ko was one of four trainees whose appointment to inspector on probation came through about three months later.  The others were similarly appointed in the course of the next eight months.   

 

In a distinguished career, Mr Ko went on to serve in a variety of units in both uniform branch and crime stream.  He was awarded Commanding Officer's Commendation in 1960 and 1964 and Governor's Commendation in 1974.  He was also awarded the Colonial Police Medal in 1970 and the Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1971.  By the time Mr Ko retired, he had attained the rank of acting Senior Superintendent. 

 

Speaking about meeting Mr and Mrs Ko, SP Fremaux said, "It was an honour and a privilege to get the chance to meet them both.  Mr Ko remembered his career like it was yesterday and Mrs Ko showed great patience and fortitude listening to us 'talking shop' for an hour or so!  His stories about serving in the Force all those years ago were fascinating and he had some wonderful anecdotes about the commissioners who served in the late sixties and early seventies, all of whom he had got to know personally."      

 

Recruitment to the inspectorate from the junior ranks has remained in place ever since.  Since 2009/2010, the Force has recruited 266 probationary inspectors from the constable, sergeant and station sergeant ranks, which accounted for 30 per cent of the total recruited.