Deputy Commissioner (Management) (DCP MAN) Chau Kwok-leung bid farewell to the Force on July 8 before proceeding on pre-retirement leave. He hosted a media gathering earlier to review his 39 years of police service. In addition to expressing heartfelt thanks to the Force for the opportunities given, and the colleagues for their support, he was honoured to have witnessed the transformation of the Force.

Mr Chau joined the Force as a Police Constable in 1978 and was promoted to Inspector in 1985. He had not only held various positions in uniformed and crime detective units, but also taken charge of training work at the headquarters of the Police Tactical Unit (PTU). Mr Chau was promoted to Chief Superintendent in 2004, Assistant Commissioner in 2009 and Senior Assistant Commissioner in 2013, and was appointed as DCP MAN in May 2015.

Delighted with sustained improvement in law & order

Speaking at the media gathering, Mr Chau said that the security situation in Hong Kong continued to improve because of the professional performance of Force members and the support of stakeholders.

He said, "Back in the 1980s and 1990s, there were a considerable number of serious crimes such as robbery and kidnapping in Hong Kong. Officers devoted to policing work without fear, bringing the era of bandits to an end. Subsequently, the Force continues cracking down on crime and reducing the crime rate by raising public awareness of crime prevention and combating cross-boundary crime. The crime figures of last year hit a new low after 1978. This proved that the Force is a highly efficient law enforcement authority."

Noting that the Force keeps high alert despite a decline in crime figures, Mr Chau pointed out that the Force further strengthened its professional capability to meet different challenges. "The Force is committed to providing staff with all-round recruitment and on-the-job training, reinforcing police values, upgrading continuously our equipment and command structure and formulating new strategies to make Hong Kong one of the safest cities in the world," he explained.

Maintaining neutrality to gain public support

Mr Chau mentioned that amid the increasingly complex global environment and social atmosphere, the challenges faced by officers are growing. He urged officers to be impartial, uphold neutrality and take a professional work attitude to overcome the difficulties. Apart from combating crime, it is also crucial to win the support of the public. "Through taking initiatives such as establishing social media and organising community activities, the Force fosters communication with people of all ages through different platforms and channels to enable them to better understand police work and enhance the image of the Force."

On the other hand, Mr Chau opined that social atmosphere directly affects officers' work environment. He hoped that officers and members of the public would show understanding towards each other so that officers could be more focused on combating crime. He also stressed that officers should remain neutral in dealing with public events with an aim to maintaining social order, ensuring public safety and minimising inconvenience caused to other citizens.

On his retirement plan, Mr Chau said that he would take a rest and go on a trip with his wife. Afterwards, he will continue to participate in long-distance running and devote more time to performing volunteer work. Mr Chau also mentioned that after the break, he might assist the Force in training work to share his policing knowledge.