Kudos for the Force
Police officers today are more helpful, friendlier and very polite," the venerable Mrs Elsie Tu said this in an interview with OffBeat earlier.
Mrs Tu, who has served the community for four decades as an Urban Councillor and a Legislative Councillor, should know, as she had been a constant critic of the Force during the 60's and early 70's.
She has singled out two woman officers of Sau Mau Ping Police Station, Assistant Divisional Commander (Operations) Jessica Mak and Senior Inspector Kelly Cheng of the Divisional Investigation Team, who recently visited her at home to provide personal help and advice.
In a letter of gratitude to the Commissioner Tsang Yam-pui, the former legislator said: "I am greatly impressed by their friendliness and efficiency, and commend them to you as being a credit to the Police Force."
"For many years now," she continued, "I haven't received any criticism of the Police from the community. Everyone I have talked to, including my friends in nearby Lok Wah Estate, has a good word or two for the officers."
While traveling in a taxi recently, Mrs Tu said, she and the driver noticed a traffic accident and several officers were present at the scene.
"I asked the driver what he thought about the Police Force at the present time, as he was an older driver and would know the problems of the past before the days of the ICAC. He told me that nowadays the Police are better educated, very polite and always willing to help," she said.
"That judgment coincides with my own observations. Their friendly manner is totally different from the conduct of some Police officers on the beat in the past.
"I tell you this because I think you should know that the public no longer fear the Police as they did in the old days, and I think they now deserve acknowledgement as Asia's finest," she added.
Ms Mak, asked by OffBeat to respond to Mrs Tu's compliment, said: "Our work is not just to uphold the law. Nowadays our duties include showing care and concern for the people we serve in the district. They are like our neighbours, especially the elderly who should be assisted as much as possible."
Mrs Tu flanked by Ms Kelly Cheng (left) and Ms Mak (right)