Under an Instructor Training Exchange Programme between the CPPSU and the Force, Prof Xiang Dang from the CPPSU gave lectures at the College's Basic Training Centre and Professional Development Learning Centre, as well as a talk on "Special Problems Encountered by Public Security Officers during Law Enforcement, and Solutions" at the College's Management Development Programme held at the PHQ Auditorium on May 11.

Prof Xiang's pilot weeklong instructional tour was an initiative between Mainland public security bureaux and the Force to enhance training partnerships and exchanges.

Under the Instructor Training Exchange Programme, the Force will send a senior police officer to give lectures at the CPPSU on a reciprocal basis in the near future.

Similarly, Commander Dean Angus, a Visiting Fellow from the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM), is on a two-week lecturing tour under an agreement signed in September by the Police College and AIPM. Under the agreement two senior officers will work as members of the teaching staff at AIPM's training headquarters in Sydney, just as Mr Angus is doing at the Police College.

Both Prof Xiang and Mr Angus have praised the Police College for working hard to enhance international collaboration on training and development.

Prof Xiang regarded the efforts as an effective way to raise training standards, with indirect benefits to the Mainland. "The good law and order situation in Hong Kong has a lot to do with a high standard of command, which can only come from professional training. In trying to gain access to police training developments in overseas jurisdictions, the Hong Kong Police can not only raise its training standard, but also act as a 'bridge' for access to overseas for the Mainland," he noted.

Mr Angus commented that the Police College's efforts not only benefit Hong Kong, but also the Police in Australia as a whole. He said: "As an institute, there are many things that we can learn from Hong Kong. There is a large population in an urban environment here, with wonderful facilities. The Hong Kong Police is a modern Police force. There are potential benefits in learning from each other. It's recognised in management schools around the world that cross-exchange, as happened in other police jurisdictions, can only be beneficial as we progress in the century."

Speaking of the Instructor Training Exchange Programme, Prof Xiang pointed out that the Force and Mainland public security bureaux had been working closer and closer together in the training field, and the scope of training exchanges between the Force and CPPSU had been extended to cover experts and professors, who would be lecturing in each other's place.

"Both places (HK and CPPSU) have taken a step towards developing collaboration at a higher level and complementing each other, with the aim of getting better results in maintaining law and order.

"Hong Kong has good experience in training of tactics and command. The CPPSU and public security bureaux can send instructors to attend senior command courses in Hong Kong," he noted.

Referring to the training agreement between AIPM and the Force, Mr Angus said the agreement had "quite a significant benefit for police officers, particularly senior managers, exchanging and learning from each other".

Speaking of the prospect of further co-operation, Mr Angus said the potential for greater co-operation was always there because once bonds were established, officers would start sharing more experience. "So as officers come to Hong Kong from the AIPM and other Australian Police services, the opportunity will grow for exchange of idea and expertise. This is a really informative exchange, which, I'm sure, can progress from here to learn from each other," he added.

Commenting on the standard of the Force's training, Mr Angus said "I've nothing but a favourable impression!"

He added: "This is a very big police service with 27,000 officers, and it strikes me as being very professional, well managed and having a very good sense of direction. So the little bit of training I've seen at the Police College is on a par with other jurisdictions."

Asked if he has any advice on training matters for the Force, Mr Angus said: "Training is important because it lays down the foundation for the future performance and behaviour of police officers. Obviously it's recognised here that as we recruit young people into policing, we need to take account of those things that would motivate and help them perform their duties, and to give them experience to do their work."

On another front, the Police College also signed a memorandum of understanding on training exchange and partnership with the International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok (ILEA Bangkok) on May 13. It was similar to the previous MOUs with AIPM and the Police Academy of the Netherlands. Later this year, the Force will begin to deploy suitable officers to work as instructors at ILEA Bangkok.

Both Prof Xiang (third right) and Mr Angus have high regard for the Force's training standard