CIP Stanley Chung and SSP OPS Bill Suen at Stadium Australia during the Sydney 2000 Olympics

The Force's first overseas liaison post has proven successful reassuring Hong Kong's trading partners of our vigilant enforcement action against crime. The post has also strengthened contacts with Australian authorities and offered new-found insights into policing mammoth public events.

Chief Inspector Stanley Chung Siu-yeung returned to Hong Kong duties last month, after exactly two years as the Force's first CIP Overseas Liaison (Sydney).

The post was created to enhance contacts and co-operation with Australian authorities to fight various commercial and organised crime. He also studied the latest technologies, tactics and training used by agencies there.

Now at the desks of Crime Headquarters, Stanley has been replaced in Sydney by former Police Headquarters CIP Tony Siu Kit-hung.

"The law enforcement environment is very different there, having both state and federal systems I needed a lot of contacts to keep in touch with all of the different Australian forces.

"Having the post helped give us better interaction with them and all the other international agencies that have offices there," he said.

"I learned a lot during my tenure which was one of my most rewarding experiences both professionally and personally. Australia is such a multicultural place you constantly deal with people of different backgrounds.

"Thanks to this exposure I now look at things from a more international perspective."

And the post could not have been established at a better time. CIP Chung and the Force received a first-hand look at how the Olympics was secured and policed.

"It was extremely good timing as HK was bidding for the Asian Games and looking for experience in events like this. Several Force officers came to Sydney and I met with them to attend conferences and find out more. We learned a lot and I prepared several reports for Operations Wing."

The officers were then Director of Operations Dick Lee Ming-kwai, Senior Superintendent Operations Bill Suen Kwai-leung and Key Points and Search Superintendent Victor Leung Man-kon.

"I was especially impressed with all the volunteers working at the Games, like retired police and security officers. The civic-mindedness of these people was very inspiring. Witnessing all this, I felt the Force was capable of handling a similar event."

Working from HK's Economic and Trade Office in Sydney, CIP Chung found himself welcoming more than officers to Australia's biggest city, helping the HK Olympic team and senior Government officials such as the then Chief, Financial and Home Affairs Secretaries who were in town.

"Australia was a lovely country with great weather and food, and friendly people. And one of the biggest things I found while I was there, was just how well recognised and regarded the Force was in other countries. This made me extremely proud to be an officer."

He recommended officers with dealings or any questions about Australia, contact CIP Siu in Sydney.

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