Mr Kwok's obvious pride in the results is understandable. Few democratic institutions anywhere in the world have ever been able to match that level of participation and it clearly reflects the voters' confidence in the IMRC, and a respect for its achievements since its formation in January 2000.

The IRMC Voting Committee Chairman, acting Auxiliary Chief Superintendent, Mr James Yiu Yeung-lung, was obviously delighted. He explained: "Although 45 candidates (most of them 'proven' representatives on the last committee) were returned unopposed, in 22 constituencies, the candidates' fought fierce election campaigns that nevertheless remained orderly and friendly. In three constituencies there was an absolute tie between candidates who then drew straws to decide the representation.

"The committee elected at the September hustings took office on November 21 and will serve for three years," he concluded.

How it Began

The IRMC Chairman, Auxiliary Chief Superintendent Mr Tse Yee-sum, said that the Committee was set up in January 2000 at the instigation of the former HKAPF Commandant, to study the 33 recommendations put forward by the Force Committee on Auxiliary Police in March 1999. Subsequently, it was recognised as a Standing Committee with extended membership to strengthen communications between Auxiliary members and to serve as a channel for forwarding their views and suggestions on development and all issues affecting the Auxiliary Police Force to the Commandant, HKAPF.

Originally, with the Chairman being appointed by the Commandant, the IRMC consisted of four headquarters-based Auxiliary Senior Superintendents as ex-officio members and 10 nominated regional representatives - two from each region.

"In November last year," said Mr Tse, "the IRMC passed a resolution that all representatives of Regions, Districts, Divisions and Band should be selected by an election. A Voting Committee, with one representative from each region, was then set up to formulate voting rules, regulations, schedule, candidate qualifications and elected member responsibilities. The committee's proposals were duly accepted by the IRMC at a full meeting in May this year.

"To ensure a fair representation of all ranks, superintendents or above were to represent regional constituencies, inspectorate officers the district constituencies and junior police officers the divisional constituencies." Mr Tse explained that IRMC members are responsible for collecting and presenting their constituents' views to the IRMC on duties, training, welfare and any other matters of concern to them, to serve as the communication channel between their constituents and the IRMC and to actively participate in the work of the IRMC.

Auxiliary Police IRMC Members
Headquarters
Band	SIPA Chung Chee-ching
Hong Kong Island Region
HKI HQ	SPA Ho Chi-ling
CDIST	CIPA Li Kam-sing
CDIV	PCA Fok Kam-cheung
WFDIV	SPCA Sin Hon-tao
WDIST	CIPA Chan Chee-wing
WDIV	SSGTA Lok Chi-keung
ABDDIV	SPCA Lai Kam-wo
WCHDIST	SIPA Lai Hung-kim
WCHDIV	SSGTA Hui Kwai-shing
HVDIV	PCA Chow Shiu-tak
EDIST	SIPA Cheung Siu-pang
NPDIV	PCA Wong Kwok-ming
CWDIV	SPCA Yiu Yau-hung
Kowloon West Region
KW HQ	WSPA Wong Kam-hing
MKDIST	SIPA Mak Chi-keung
MKDIV	SSGTA Pow Shiu-kong
SSPODIST	CIPA To Ming-yin
SSPODIV	WSSGTA Chan Yuk-yee
SKMDIV	SGTA Lo Kwok-fai
CSWDIV	SSGTA Ho Chi-leung
YTDIST	SIPA Lau Chun-chung
TSTDIV	SSGTA Tse Shu-hung
YMTDIV	WSGTA Liu Siu-fong
KCDIST	CIPA Li Che-sum
KCDIV	SSGTA Cheung Yuk-fai
HHDIV	SSGTA Mock Chee-chiu
Kowloon East Region
	KE HQ	WSPA Yik Chu Siu-yin
KTDIST	SIPA Cheng Kit-ho
KTDIV	SSGTA Wat Wai-kuen
TKODIV	SSGTA Chung Por-lun
SMPDIST	SIPA Chan Yim-inn
SMPDIV	PCA Leung Siu-kong
NTKDIV	SSGTA Kwong Kwok-ming
WTSDIST	SIPA Yuen Wai-lun
WTSDIV	PCA Au Yiu-fai
TWSDIV	SGTA Chan Chi-keung
New Territories North Region
NTN HQ	ASSPA Chan Tsan-ming
BORDIST	IPA Lee Ka-hung
STKDIV	SSGTA Yeung Wai-chak
TKLDIV	SGTA Lee Tat-man
LMCDIV	WSGTA Chan Siu-yin
TPDIST	SIPA Woo Kin-man
TPDIV	SSGT Cheung Kam-wah
SSDIV	SGTA Cheng Shu-fan
TMDIST	CIPA Ho Wing-sum
TMDIV	SGTA Wang Kin-yung
CPKDIV	PCA Lau Shu-ping
YLDIST	CIPA Cheung Ka-chiu
YLDIV	PCA Yu Chik-wah
PHDIV	SGTA Wong Chun-wai
TSWDIV	PCA Ng Shui-kit
New Territories South Region
NTS HQ	SPA Chung Chau-wah
KWTDIST	CIPA Chan Siu-kit
KWCDIV	PCA Li Chun-ho
TYDIV	SGTA Lau Sek-hong
STDIST	SIPA Leung Chi-kin
STDIV	SGTA Liu Ka-fai
TSDIV	SGTA Yeung Hung-por
MOSDIV	SGTA Lau Kwok-gay
TWDIST	CIPA Cheuk Chun-sing
TWDIV	SGTA Lau Kam-ming
LMSDIV	SSGTA Lee Wah-chu
LTDIST	SIPA Lui Tit-leung
LTNDIV	SSGTA Chan Siu-keung
CCDIV	SPCA Ng Moon-tong

IRMC Elections: counting the votes