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Where are they now? 
DEAR SIR, I refer to your Photo Feature on the Police Dog Unit pups (issue 649). I thought you might be interested in news of two older HKP dogs who went through PDU in 1987/88 and 1990/91. Baron (formerly Cora, pictured on the left) was borne in PDU (Ping Shan) on November 23, 86, part of the 'C' litter which included Candy and Copper. At six months of age he was diagnosed with severe dysplasia in both hips. His life expectancy was six to eight years and I took him with this understanding. Eighteen months ago he flew to Saskatoon and at the University's Veterinary College he had a hip replacement operation. He is also crippled with arthritis, but apart from that he is well and as active as can be expected for a dog at twelve-plus years. Sadie (pictured on the top) and her sister, whose name I don't know, were given as puppies to PDU in February 1990. I puppy-walked Sadie for a year and she then returned to PDU in early 1991 where she went through the full training course. Before passing-out both she and her sister were given a dishonourable discharge from the Force as they lacked aggression (they refused to bite!) and I was able to take her back. Despite being hit by a car on Lantau in 1994, which required 32 stitches, she is in very good health.
Yours sincerely, |
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DEAR SIR, ALL Force members have heard dozens of stories of characters and incidents, some exciting, some amusing, some poignant. I have over the years unfortunately forgotten most of the ones I told and heard. To assist my imperfect memory, I would like to document as many tales as possible, with a longer term view to publishing the best of them as a book. It will be neither a history nor a Force propaganda tome. Rather, it will show the Hong Kong Police from the point of view of the men and women who served in it. For example, a few years ago there appeared in OFFBEAT some thought-provoking articles by former police officers into the last few weeks of Hong Kong before its fall to Japanese forces. I would appeal to those who lived through such traumatic times to share some of the incidents with those of us fortunate enough never to have experienced such events. It would be fascinating to show the transition of Hong Kong from a relatively minor colony to the wealthy metropolis of today from the point of view of the man on the beat. What was it like to be a cop in the New Territories in the 30s, 40s, 50s? What problems were faced? What did the police do off duty? How did your promotion boards go? What was Police Training School like in the old days? What did you feel when you revisited your former Division after 30 years away to find it a mass of estates and flyovers? A lot has happened in the Force's 154 years. Officers have killed and been killed. Lives have been saved. Babies delivered in strange places. Advice dispensed. While the surroundings will have changed radically over the years, have the emotions ¡Ð fear, sense of loss, satisfaction, exhilaration, sadness ¡Ð changed with the different generations or do we police officers remain essentially the same inside? I would ask anyone with a Force connection to pass on any anecdotes that could help capture the flavour of an era, an incident or an individual. I would particularly ask any Indian and Pakistani officers, and men from other Chinese provinces such as Shan Dung to send in stories, particularly anything that shows the contribution that such diversity has made to the policing of such an international city. But above all, we need the stories of those local Hong Kong officers who have made up the backbone of our unique Force. All contributions will be credited should anything be published (unless you would prefer your name not appear). Any photographs would also be appreciated.
Chris Pedder |
