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Cross-border police exercises may increase
 Friendly forum: D OPS Dick Lee and senior officers liaise with the Guangdong Border Defence Bureau |
The recent large scale joint exercise between the Force and the Guangdong Border Defence Bureau may become a regular drill to further improve boundary policing.
Senior officers met with Bureau officials on August 4 to discuss border law and order and review the results of the exercise conducted on April 19.
Speaking at the meeting, Bureau Director Lin Jieyuan said he hoped joint exercises could be held every two years.
"Joint exercises improve the co-ordination of the two forces and ensure both parties can carry out law enforcement in their respective jurisdiction effectively under the principle of One Country Two Systems," Mr Lin said.
"We hope that through exchange of intelligence, the problem of illegal immigration can be tackled."
He said the April exercise involving land, sea and air operations was successful, ensuring officers from both Forces could overcome difficulties even in inclement weather.
Director of Operations Dick Lee Ming-kwai said intelligence exchange and joint exercises were important for maintaining border security.
January to July saw 4,871 illegal immigrants netted in Hong Kong, compared with 7,487 during the same period last year.
"The scale of the April exercise in Luofang and Yantian Bay was the largest of its kind since the handover.
"It aimed at showing the capability of the Force and the Bureau in combating illegal immigration, and test their abilities in responding to the sudden outbreak of boundary incidents," Mr Lee said.
He said that on the day of the exercise, the joint command on land and at sea had operated effectively, reflecting the top co-operation between the forces. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) Cheung Chi-shum, and Marine and New Territories North Regional Commanders Spencer Foo Tsun-kong and Ng Wai-kit, also attended the meeting.