CPC Series
An unusual encounter

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Ever since joining the Emergency Unit, I have taken up various jobs on board an EU car, except driving.

One day, our Sergeant led a colleague and me on anti-crime patrol. Until it was about time to call it a day, we had not encountered anything special. Though it seemed that we would finish empty-handed, it was still a good thing to see our beat crime free. Eventually we came across something unexpectedly........

While we were patrolling a market, my colleague in plainclothes spotted a middle-aged woman in outmoded clothes and with fluffy hair. She looked nervous, giving the impression of being an illegal immigrant. My colleague winked at me, signalling me to conduct an immediate stop and search operation.

While the stop and search was being conducted, she suddenly challenged us and asked loudly why she was required to produce her identity card for inspection. We surely understand how a citizen would feel under this circumstance. I therefore explained clearly our duties to her, but she was still not satisfied. She even set a condition with the Sergeant by demanding the three of us to apologise to her if she could really produce her identity card. Being well-trained professional officers, we refused to budge. Unexpectedly, this encounter later developed into a complaint.

Following the incident we conducted a review in order to explore for ways in which complaints might be avoided in the execution of duties. However, we could not come up with any idea no matter how hard we had racked our brains.

In recent years the Force has launched various promotional measures to enhance relations with the community and service quality, in particular, the "Informal Resolution Scheme", which is useful for fostering mutual understanding between the Police and the community. This scheme has provided an alternative channel for the Force to tap the views and feelings of the community concerning Police actions and performance. Through this channel, the public can also be briefed on the purposes and reasons behind Police actions. The Force always attaches importance to the feedback and response of the community. If we discharge our duties with fairness, sincerity and politeness in accordance with the standing instructions of the Force, any misunderstanding and ill-feeling that the public might have about the Force will surely disappear. And we can even earn the support of our colleagues and superiors.

We should be proud of being members of this outstanding Police Force. None of us should be discouraged by unreasonable complaints that may arise from time to time. Instead, we should make concerted efforts to safeguard the Force's honour and image that our predecessors and veteran colleagues have worked so hard to build up.

(Police Constable Ng Man-ho of Hong Kong Island Emergency Unit contributes this article)