Under the arrangement of the Hong Kong Police College, Chief Inspectors (CIPs) Lau Ka-ho and Ko Tik participated in a postgraduate programme, the Graduate Certificate in Applied Management (Policing and Emergency Services), from July 30 to August 17 at the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM) in Manly, Australia.

Before departure, the two CIPs had completed two part-time distance-learning modules on strategic planning theories and management of public safety and emergency services.

Thirty-one participants from police and emergency services agencies in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong attended the programme. Through lectures, discussions, presentations and written assignments, the participants acquired a broad spectrum of knowledge, including adaptive leadership, strategic foresight, next-generation policing, strategic environmental analysis, public values, public sector morality and stress management.

The visiting fellows, one of whom was Superintendent Fang Chi-kin who is seconded to the AIPM, provided invaluable guidance and support to the participants throughout the programme.

Upon completion of the programme, the two CIPs were on a one-week field attachment to the New South Wales Police Force in Sydney. They visited the Online Intelligence Training Unit, Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad, Corporate Communication Unit, and Cyber and High Technology Crime Command to learn about their good practices in utilising the Internet to fight crime and engage the community.