Thirty-three officers of the Force and three outside the Force completed a three-week triad expert course hosted by Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB) between June 3 and 21. Speaking at the opening of the course, CIB Superintendent (SP) Yam Wai-kwok pointed out that of the existing 69 triad experts, some would retire in the near future. Therefore it was essential to train new blood to meet the increasing demand for triad expert services.

The local officers were at the ranks of Police Constable to Senior Inspector, including a first-ever Woman Detective Constable, who has anti-triad experience. The trainees outside the Force were two crime detectives from the Macao Judiciary Police and one from the Anti-triad Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Singapore Police Force. 

The course had a broad curriculum, including the rank structure, background and historical developments of triad societies and triad activities. To get a better understanding of the relevant legislation, the trainees attended mock court training and sat for an exam. 

Besides Senior Triad Experts, guest lecturers of the course included a Magistrate, a Senior Public Prosecutor of the Department of Justice, a Professor of the University of Hong Kong, a Taoist priest, a Correctional Services Officer and a Police School Liaison Officer. Officers who had participated in undercover operations were invited to share their experiences.

At the course's graduation ceremony, Acting CIB Chief Superintendent (CSP) Ho Yuen-ha presented Certificates of Attendance to the trainees. CSP Ho called on the trainees to keep up their effort so as to play the role of an expert witness in court and provide professional services to the Force and court.

First Woman PC turns Triad Expert

Woman Detective Constable Ma Shuk-yin of CIB Research Unit said: "I am honoured to be the first woman constable to participate in the triad expert training course. What I have learned in the past three weeks would be a big help for my job in the Research Unit. The exchanges among police officers of Hong Kong, Macao and Singapore are also very useful for me in handling triad cases. I will continue to research on the development and evolution of triad societies, and hope I would make a contribution as a triad expert."

A Senior Investigation Officer of the Singapore Police Force, Mr Ang Hwee-tat, commented: "Thanks to the sharing with the knowledgeable lecturers and other trainees, what I have gained is far beyond books. The frank exchange in the three-week course helped me built up close friendship with everyone."

Both the Chief Criminal Investigator of the Macao Judiciary Police, Mr Lai Man-vai, and the Senior Criminal Investigator, Mr Chan Ngai-kin, said the triad expert course had gained wide recognition for its professionalism, adding that the course would help them tackle triad societies.