Captain's log: Iain Ward with his books Sui Geng and Mariners

He's just released Mariners: The Hong Kong Marine Police 1948 - 1997, chronicling the history of the Marine Police from World War Two up to the Handover.

Retiring from the Force in 1994, Iain's used his time in the United Kingdom to write his biggest work yet which takes over from Sui Geng's coverage of the Marine Police's first 100-odd years.

In town catching up with all his old Force mates, Iain recently stopped by the OffBeat offices to give the new book a bit of a plug.

Although busy with other pursuits he's taken on since retirement, Iain said he found time to write the book due to the strong demand for it.

"When I started doing the first book I thought I'd just do the one, looking at the history of the Marine Police. But it would have been such a huge, thick book - big and heavy - it would have cost about 500 bucks and I don't think anyone would have bought it. So I covered up to 1950. But then people started saying things like 'oh yeah, great book, so when we getting the book on the next 50 years?', So I ended up doing the new book mostly because people wanted it."

And the piece has already proven popular with Iain selling more than 70 copies within days of his arrival. It tells how the Marine Police grew from a ragged flotilla of war-surplus vessels into one of the world's most sophisticated maritime patrol organisations. It also uses the words of over 40 officers who contributed their memories of adventure, triumph and disaster at sea while they served in the formation.

They also offer up some of the other intriguing aspects of their jobs such as dry-land activities like patrolling outer-island communities and anti-riot duties during times of strife and the job's lighter side and off-duty antics. Their words are also accompanied by over 140 photos, drawings, diagrams and maps in the 280-page book.

"I'm really pleased with the outcome of the book and the printing quality of it. It was, of course, a lot easier to put together then the first one as there were more former officers still alive to speak with," Iain said.

"The problem with the first book was there was not enough stuff to go in it, but this time there was too much stuff and I had to cut it down. Being the official archivist of the Marine Police, people gave me a lot of great photos and it was hard narrowing them down to just 140."

Iain joined the Force in 1966 and spent most of his career as a Marine officer commanding launches, outlying island stations, operational divisions and the Marine Police Training School.

Some 1,200 copies of Mariners have been printed and about 200 have been brought to Hong Kong. They can be purchased locally through Force welfare outlets or at the Police Museum for $300.

You can also mail order the book by calling IEW Publications (UK code) 1206-824156 or faxing 1206-822143.




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