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Friday, January 27,
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Any survey of Hong Kong's recent performance and prospects would be
incomplete without some reference to the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. News
tends to be bad news, and my first point is that the trauma of the past few
months should not obscure the significant successes-operational-that the
Force is achieving and has achieved.
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There can be little doubt that it has become far more effective in its in its main task the containment of crime. Its greater strength, its improved organisation, equipment and professional skill, have done much to reduce crime, improve detection, and to make people safer.
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Furthermore, the relationship of the Force with members of the public,
and its awareness of the need for the closest cooperation with those whom it
is their duty to protect, has greatly improved.
But I would not have called in a very senior team of UK Officers if I
thought that all was well. Obviously the law must be enforced whether by
Folice or on Police or on any other member of the public service. If there
are some so foolish as to think that in modern Hong Kong it could be
otherwise, they should come to their senses; there is no room for compromise.
But I believe that in the Force as a whole attitudes have been affected
by some genuine grievances and by a sense of ill-usage, as well as by
misunderstandings, and that there are probably weaknesses in communication
and chain of command and other factors resulting fro very rapid expansion
which have contributed. I very much hope that the United Kingdon team with
local help and action will be ble to assist in putting all this to rights.
I also believe that a police association could play a very useful role,
provided it is properly motivated and responsibly led.
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/The Royal
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