!
2.
Commenting on the announcement, the Commissioner of Folice,
Mr. E.C. Eates, said:
"It is a very great honour to have this distinction
conferred upon the Force.
"Everyone in the Force is proud of the honour we have
received, and I would like to think that the community
as a whole will share our feelings, because their
support has been a vital factor in establishing our reputation as an efficient law enforcement body.
"There are always challenges for a police force to meet some chronic and others arising from time to
time, but I am confident these will be overcome,
and that we shall uphold with dignity the honour
which has been bestowed upon us.
11
The only large Police Force outside Britain which has
received a similar honour is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
rece
The Hong Kong Police Force was formed over 120 years ago
with 11 European and 21 Chinese policemen.
In the two World Wars the Hong Kong Folice Force made a
considerable contribution and a total of 132 officers died in action
or in prison camps. In 1914 many policemen served in the Armed Forces
and in the last war the Folice Force became a militia and helped to
defend the Colony.
In the period since 1946 seventy-six officers of all ranks
have died on duty.
Through the years the scope of its activities has widened
with the introduction of the Criminal Investigation Department, Anti-
Narcotics Branch, Special Branch, Traffic and Training Branches.
Women police first joined the Force in 1951.
Today the Hong Kong Police has a strength of 11,194
officers and men and incorporates all the specialist departments
associated with a modern Police Force.
/The