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 DCP OPS Wong Tsan-Kwong and HKP officers enjoying the historical sights of Shantou with their GDBDB hosts. |
RECENTLY an eight-member Hong Kong Police
delegation led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Wong Tsan-kwong, took
part in a two-day meeting with the Guangdong Border Defence Bureau (GDBDB) in Shantou.
"The meeting examined ways to further enhance liaison and the efficiency in the handing of intelligence in combating illegal immigration,"a police participant said. |
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"Both sides reviewed the anti-illegal immigration tactics and explored various means to further strengthen enforcement action which included the exchange of skills and intellingence. We are pleased with the encouraging results in the anti-illegal immigration work brought about by the excellent co-operation between Hong Kong Police and the GDBDB." During their stay, HKP offices demonstrated a hand-held infra-red scanner recently developed by Force members as a tool in their anti-illegal immigration operations and also viewed Shantou city's illegal immigration and smuggling blackspots. GDBDB patrol vessels made a historical visit to Hong Kong in June last year and the reciprocal visit to Guangzhou by Hong Kong Marine Police was held September last. As of November last year, 13,201 illegal immigrants had been arrested, representing a decrease of 20 per cent compared with 16,435 illegal immigrants netted during the corresponding period in 1997. | |
 EDO on call 24-hours a day | THE Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Bureau maintains a cadre of highly trained Inspectorate Officers to provide a reserve of Bomb Disposal Officer (BDOs) to augment the permanent EOD staff during internal security situations, periods of high EOD activity, special operations and major IPP visits. EOD cadre officers must pass a six-week training course to qualify as Cadre Bomb Disposal Officers be-fore being eligible for appointment to the EOD Cadre. |
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"There is degree of misconception in the Force about the role of Cadre BDOs," says the Senior Bomb Disposal Officer, Dominic' Bones' Brittain, "Many officers have said to me that Cadre BDOs are only deployed to assist the regular BDOs.This is simply not true. Cadre BDOs are always deployed to deal with incidents independently and their training reflects this. They are trained to use the full range of EOD weapons and equipment we have for Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD), that is dealing with home made bombs. Since June 1997 the EOD Cadre have deployed as Bomb Disposal Officers for several major events and have acquitted themselves magnificently." Mr Brittain points out that there are differences between a Cadre BDO and a regular BDO, however, Regular BDOs are also trained to deal with a wide range of other situations apart form IEDD.Examples include dealing with wartime bombs and munitions, defusing weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, biological or chemical), designing ammunition storage facilities, inspecting ammunition store, conducting ammunition trails, investigating accidents involving ammunition above .50 caliber and training other officers in the Force. "This is reflected in the four-year training course that full time BDOs undergo," he says. "However, the Cadre BDOs are fully capable in the IEDD role," continues Mr Brittain."Bomb disposal is very challenging work ¡Ð it requires that you to assess a situation, make a plan to solve it and personally see that plan through to completion. This is enormously satisfying and the successful rendering safe of a bomb is a very valuable contribution towards a stable society, These officers make a real difference." | |
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The EOD Bureau is now recruiting new Cadre BDOs, Interested officer should read HQO 184/98 Part V and submit their applications by 15 January. Application forms can also be obtained by telephoning the OC GR EOD on 2860-2506. Applications should be routed through Formation Commanders in the normal manner but officers must fox them direct to the SBDO. Faxed applications arriving before 5pm on the 15th will be accepted even thought the hard copy may take longer to process through the system. As for qualifications, contrary to another widespread misconception the SBDO is not looking for people with chemistry degree."We teach them what they need to know, academically, What we need is highly dedicated men and women who can think for them, have reasonable mechanical aptitude and a good sense of humour," he says."The last is particularly important ¡Ð it shows a sense of proportion, the ability to think laterally and a capacity to cope with severe stress, all of which is vital in this line of work. You don't necessarily get that by doing a degree in chemistry or physics." |
 A No.1 and No.2 discuss an IEDD during an EOD training session |
