Thirteen Police and seven Customs and Excise handlers, and their canines, graduated from the Police Dog Unit basic training course on February 23.

It marked the second year running that PDU has assisted the C&E Department in providing two 11-week basic courses in drug search for handlers and dogs.

Seven teams of C&E handlers and their dogs, English Springer Spaniels, Border Collie and Labrador Retrievers, were now carrying out drug detection duties at different locations, while 13 Police handlers and their dogs would start patrols this month.

Customs Officer Ho Kam-wing said the course was useful and informative. "Our instructor showed us the skills to understand the particular characters of the dogs and taught us how to make them understand and follow our instructions," he said.

C&E dogs Bun and Bud showed their newfound skills in a demonstration during the graduation ceremony that saw guests such as Acting Assistant Commissioner (Operations) Lionel Lam Kin and C&E Assistant Commissioner (Border and Drugs) David Tong Hin-yeung in attendance.

Chief Superintendent (Personnel Management) Martin Samson also attended to witness the graduation of Jester, a PDU pup he cared for.

"I am very proud of him and I hope he will make a good contribution to society," he said.

C&E dogs and their handlers at the graduation