"The Police were chosen to take part in the farewell
and handover ceremonies because we represent the
civilian authority and the rule of law in Hong Kong,
but also because we represent stability and
professionalism"

AT midnight June 30, 1997, with the whole world watching, Hong Kong was returned to China and entered a new era as the flags of Britain and Hong Kong were lowered, while those of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were raised during the solemn, though emotion-packed handover of sovereignty ceremony in the Grand Hall of the city' new Extension of the Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Nowhere was the pride and jubilation of the moment more felt than in the hearts of Hong Kong Police Inspectors Edmond Wong Siu-keung and Louis Tam Kan-lun who, as members of the ceremony' Colours Party, represented Hong Kong in lowering the old flag and hoisting the new HKSAR flag.

Although both were part of a team of six police officers in the Colours Party, the honour of raising and lowering the flags fell to Wong and Tam.

"The hoisting of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flag meant that Hong Kong had embarked on the most important experience of its history. The ceremony had great symbolic meaning and I felt it an honour to participate in this historic event," said IP Tam who raised the HKSAR flag at the ceremony.

"I knew that the job would not be easy. We would be under the spotlight of Hong Kong People as well as the whole world. More importantly we were representing the Hong Kong Police Force," said IP Wong who lowered the Hong Kong flag.

"The Police were chosen to take part in the farewell and handover ceremonies because we represent the civilian authority and the rule of law in Hong Kong, but also because we represent stability and professionalism," explained Assistant Commissioner of Police (Special Duties) Dick Lee Ming-kwai. "And as such, the Hong Kong Police Force instills a sense of confidence not only in the people of Hong Kong - but also in the international community."

While soldiers of the United Kingdom lowered the Union Jack, Inspector Wong lowered the Hong Kong flag as a British band played the national anthem.

The last strains of God Save the Queen died with the ascension of the Chinese flag by members of the People's Liberation Army and the raising of the HKSAR flag by Hong Kong Police Inspector Tam. The Chinese national anthem - March of the Volunteers - was played by a Chinese military band as the flags were raised.

IP Tam and IP Wong, both from the Accident Investigation Division Traffic HKI, were nominated by their Divisional Commander for the assignments and interviewed by ACP (Special Duties) Dick Lee Ming-kwai.

The Force issued an internal circular last May asking all Major Formation Commanders to nominate officers for the "Colours Parties" to be deployed during the handover ceremony.

Said ACP Dick Lee Ming-kwai: "The police Colours Parties participated in the raising and lowering of flags in both the farewell and handover ceremonies. Twenty-four officers were nominated by various formations and 12 of them were shortlisted for interviews. I selected nine officers for a flag lowering party at the farewell ceremony (one of them was on standby). Six of the eight officers also attended the Handover Ceremony.

"I based the final selection of officers on body height, build, language skills and also drill experience. It was necessary that those involved conveyed a uniformity in look. Unfortunately it was difficult to find women officers who met the height requirements. Of the two expatriate officers interviewed, I selected one to take part in the farewell ceremony."

Prerequisites were that candidates be six feet tall and be able to deport themselves smartly in uniform. A total of six officers (two inspectors and four sergeants/station sergeants) were selected - three for the flag lowering party and three for the flag hoisting party at the Handover Ceremony. IP Wong is six-feet-three-inches tall, while IP Tam hovers at six feet. "The biggest challenge in hoisting the HKSAR flag was to ensure that it reached full height in 42 seconds - the duration period in which the Chinese national anthem was played. The timing had to be very accurate - neither too fast nor too slow," said Inspector Tam.

While the whole world watches, Force members selected to lower old British Hong Kong flag and raise new HKSAR flag in the Grand Hall during the handover ceremony perform their historic duty with a sense of profound pride

Inspector Wong had 36 seconds to lower the Hong Kong flag during the playing of God Save the Queen. He tried his best to lower the flag as smoothly as possible.

"We started rehearsals with the British Forces and the PLA soldiers from mid-June," recalled IP Wong. "The drills became very intensive four days before the handover as the pace of our movements during the actual ceremony had to match each other exactly - had to be perfect."

Both police inspectors were satisfied with their performance at the handover ceremony which they say they carried off better than during the rehearsals. "We felt that we accomplished our jobs in a honourable way and that we lived up to the expectations of the Hong Kong Police Force," said Ip Wong.

They also thanked Senior Inspector Ranges PTS Tsang Pang-fei (an experienced drill and musketry instructor) for his invaluable advice and training during the rehearsals.