As Deputy Commissioner (Operations) (DCP OPS) Wong Chi-hung is going to retire, he reviewed his 35-year-long police career before proceeding on pre-retirement leave. He is proud to grow up with the Force and witness the changes of the era. He is also delighted with the continuous advancement of the Force and the stability of the society.

After joining the Force as an Inspector in 1981, Mr Wong initially undertook criminal investigation work in various posts and then served as commanders of a number of formations and the Commandant of the Police Tactical Unit (PTU). He was promoted to Assistant Commissioner (Operations) in 2009, Director of Operations in 2013 and DCP OPS in September 2014.

Witnessing development of the Force

Speaking at a media reception on October 4, Mr Wong said the Force has kept up with the times in terms of its equipment, training, structure and system. He feels much honoured to witness the rapid changes of the Force and its transformation into a professional and committed team.

"In the past 30-odd years, I have witnessed distinct challenges in different times, such as the influx of Vietnamese boat people in 1980s, serious armed robbery offences in 1990s, the 2008 Beijing Olympics Equestrian Events and many processions and demonstrations in recent years. Although the social situation has changed and officers have to face different challenges, we are united and eventually all of the above-mentioned challenges had been overcome," he elaborated.

Thanking colleagues for support

Mr Wong expressed his gratitude to the Force for its training opportunities, and also thanked colleagues for their support and trust. He said, "The Force continues to provide on-the-job training for officers, and organise a variety of activities to cater for our needs. I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to all colleagues for their dedicated support over the years. This enables me to try my utmost to fight crime, serve the public and contribute to the community."

Enforcing law with fairness & impartiality

Mr Wong said the primary duty of an officer is to maintain social order. "As a law enforcement officer, we should discharge our duties in accordance with the law. Being sensible and reasonable, we may take a step further to take into consideration the needs of various parties, thereby winning the recognition of the public," Mr Wong explained. He believed that officers would continue to adopt a professional approach in carrying out their duties with an aim to enforcing the law with fairness and impartiality. "Officers often encounter people with different views and standpoints. The authority of the Force is derived from the law. Thus, we have to be impartial in balancing the interests of all parties as well as upholding the rule of law, so as to meet the public's expectation of the Force," he added.

On his retirement life, Mr Wong looks forward to his pre-retirement vacation and would like to take a rest. Then he will continue serving the community and taking part in volunteer activities with a view to building social harmony. He will turn a new chapter of his life with a plan to realise his childhood dream to learn musical instruments.

Prior to Mr Wong's retirement, he attended a number of activities. In addition to reviewing the passing-out parade of the PTU on September 30, he was invited to share his valuable work experience at the 12th Senior Leaders Exit Debriefing Series on October 5.