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 SSP Moderator Lau (right) with Force Promotion Assessment Team members at the start of their two-day briefing |
"THE appointment of all of you here was
through a rigorous selection process which included the recommendation of your major
formation commanders, vetting by Personnel Wing, my perusal, and finally approval by
DCP (MAN). You should be proud of yourselves for having the chance of participating
in this promotion exercise. I have unreserved confidence in your efficiency and
professional knowledge."
So said Director of Personnel and Training, SACP Leung Fung-shun addressing the 15 superintendents and 30 chief inspectors who make up the new Force Promotion Assessment Teams (FPATs) at the start of their recent two-day briefing session at Police Headquarters prior to the commencement of their work on the 1998/99 Police Constable to Sergeant Promotion Exercise. |
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Continued SACP Leung: "Force Management has introduced a revised system for the 1998/99 Police Constable to Sergeant Promotion Exercise as part of the process of continuous development in the Force. Before revising this system, we have also considered the recommendations of two review reports on the promotion system conducted internally by the Force and by the ICAC upon invitation of the Commissioner of Police." The new system incorporates many unique features and has introduced new procedures. The 15 independent, full-time FPATs (overseen by the newly appointed SSP Moderator) replace the former 30-odd Formation Assessment Boards and the Force Promotion Board and represent the biggest fundamental change under the revised PC to Sergeant Promotion Exercise which is aimed at achieving the principles of openness, transparency, fairness and impartiality. "The FPATs make it a more impartial and equitable system with no favouritism and total objectivity ensuring only the best officers become sergeants," said SSP Moderator Angela Lau Tse Kam-har. Each of the new Force Promotion Assessment Teams is comprised of a superintendent and two chief inspectors from various formations who sit in 15 centralised locations and interview constables who do not come directly under their command. Officers of the 15 FPATs will look at the strongest police constables for promotion from the group of candidates put forward by the formations, do a paper assessment of them, shortlist only the serious contenders, then interview those officers and make their recommendations to the Force Review Board. The Force Review Board (comprised of the SSP Moderator and two superintendents) will conduct a final review of the FPATs' recommendations and assess the overall marks of all the candidates using a recognised method known as "Standard Score". The SSP Moderator and the Force Review Board will then review the paper board markings and submit a final list of the candidates along with the Board's recommendations to the Commissioner of Police for promotion from that list. "This PC to Sergeant promotion exercise has great significance and will have lasting impact," said Mr Leung. "The current revised system is a pilot scheme. At the conclusion of the promotion exercise, we will take into account all of your reports and will conduct a full evaluation to be examined by the Steering Committee on the JPO Promotion System." The content of the two-day briefing session was substantial with the SSP Moderator explaining in detail each item of the revised system, the responsibilities of every officer concerned (including declaration of potential conflict of interests), and all aspects of the paper board and the interview phases to ensure that the same standards are applied by all 15 FPATs across the board. This was followed by the Force Statistician's brief on the definition of "standard score"; a presentation by ICAC Corruption Prevention Department Head C N Yen; a very well-received presentation by Susan Leung, STO CSTDI, on interview and selection skills; SSP Lau's brief on the interview phase with regard to the standard marking guide, preparation of questions; the need for and means of consistent reporting; and a practical exercise on marking. FPAT members also took part in exercises to hone and standardise their selection skills; were told of important points to note at various stages of the promotion exercise; and finally briefed on the FPAT Chairmen's reports to the Commissioner of Police. "I reiterate that there is a special significance in this PC to Sergeant promotion exercise," said SACP Leung. "I hope all of you will do your best and attach great importance to it. You should adopt an impartial attitude and achieve the best possible results laying a solid foundation for the future JPO promotion exercises." | |
Hong Kong pedestrians most vulnerable to deaths on the road |
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REVIEWING traffic accidents for the first
half of this year, Chief Superintendent, Traffic Headquarters, Lai Pak-hay said the number
of accidents with persons injured decreased by 7.8 per cent to 6,869 cases compared with
the corresponding period last year. (Accidents on Hong Kong Island and in the New
Territories South dropped significantly during the period).
CSP Lai pointed out that following too close to vehicles in front remained the most common cause of traffic accidents. During the period under review, fatal traffic accidents decreased to 98 cases from 116 cases in the same period last year while serious injury accidents decreased from 1,595 cases to 1,495. Of the fatalities claiming 106 lives, 50 were pedestrians, indicating that they were most vulnerable to accidental deaths on the road. Drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and passengers accounted for 56 of the total fatalities. Mr Lai reminded all pedestrians to take the necessary measures to minimise their exposure to risk by using pedestrian underpasses, footbridges, zebra and controlled crossings. "Motorists should always watch out for pedestrian crossings, and reduce their speed accordingly with regard to the road condition," he added. Turning to accidents on expressways, Mr Lai noted that Tolo Highway and Tuen Mun Road recorded 28.7 and 13.2 per cent decreases in traffic accidents with 31.2 and 38.7 per cent decreases in casualties respectively. The Island Eastern Corridor showed a 17.4 per cent decrease in traffic accidents with a 24.5 per cent drop in casualties. Accidents involving public buses fell from 840 cases to 799. "A study into bus accidents revealed that 'sudden stopping/starting' was the main cause of the accidents," Mr Lai said. "Enforcement actions against public bus drivers increased slightly by 0.9 per cent. The majority of the drivers were prosecuted for careless driving, speeding and traffic signal and traffic sign offences." Traffic enforcement activities in the first half of this year decreased by 9.7 per cent, with speeding topping the list. A total of 97,756 speeding offences were recorded during the period, representing a drop of 10.5 per cent. A police study showed that about 10 per cent of night time accidents had a drink driving factor. Since the introduction of the drink driving legislation on December 15, 1995, Police have breathalysed a total of 38,634 drivers with 4,125 or 10.7 per cent found to have consumed alcohol. Of the 4,125 drivers, 2,258 were found to have an alcohol level over the prescribed limit, representing a hit rate of 5.8 per cent. "A total of 1,456 drivers were convicted of drink driving offences, resulting in fines ranging from $1,000 to $12,500 and disqualification from one month to 48 months. Four drivers were sentenced to imprisonment of 21 days to two months," Mr Lai said. From July 1, 1997 to June 30, 1998, 29 persons were convicted of rear seat belt offences. "To enhance the public's awareness of the importance of wearing seat belts, a four-day territory-wide operation targeting seat belt offences was mounted in June resulting in the issue of over 300 fixed penalty tickets," Mr Lai said. In the first six months of 1998, 11,667 prosecutions of overloading offences were recorded, which represented a drop of 7.6 per cent. "The enforcement against insecure loads increased significantly with 4,576 prosecution cases recorded, representing an increase of three per cent,* Mr Lai said. |
