XN000022-1989-08-13 — Page 6

5

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 1989

POLICE PERSONNEL COMPETENT IN RESUMING MILITARY'S BORDER DUTIES

IT IS NOT ANTICIPATED THAT BORDER DUTIES TO BE RESUMED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE DURING AND AFTER THE PHASED WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH MILITARY PERSONNEL WILL POSE ANY DIFFICULTY FOR POLICE

OFFICERS OF THE FIELD PATROL DETACHMENT.

AS REGULAR CONSULTATIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN POLICE AND ARMY OVER THE LOGISTICS OF THE BORDER DUTIES, PLANS ARE IN HAND FOR THE FIRST POLICE COMPANY TO MOVE TO THE AREA IN DECEMBER NEXT YEAR WITH FULL RESUMPTION BEING COMPLETED BY 1993.

DURING A VISIT TO THE BORDER, COMMISSIONER OF POLICE MR RAYMON ANNING EMPHASISED THE COMPETENCE OF POLICE PERSONNEL IN RESUMING DUTIES CURRENTLY BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE MILITARY.

EXPERSSING ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN POLICE DEPLOYMENT AT THE BORDER MR ANNING SAID: "THE POLICE ARE IN FACT RESUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BORDER, WHICH THEY ALWAYS HAD PRIOR ΤΟ MID-1979.

"THE ARMY TOOK OVER WHEN THERE WAS A SERIOUS INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND THE FORCE WAS HARD PRESSED AS A RESULT.

"TO COPE WITH THEIR NORMAL DAY TO DAY DUTIES POLICE OFFICERS ARE ALREADY TRAINED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF PATROL TACTICS AND TECHNIQUES AND THERE IS NOTHING NEW THAT COULD NOT BE EASILY ADAPTED TO COVER BORDER RESPONSIBILITIES."

MR ANNING SAID THE FIELD PATROL DETACHMENT WOULD ALREADY HAVE ATTENDED 12 WEEKS POLICE TACTICAL UNIT TRAINING AS WELL AS A MONTH'S FAMILIARISATION TRAINING BEFORE TAKING UP THEIR BORDER DUTIES.

"ADDITIONALLY THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANISATION OF A TACTICAL UNIT COMPANY IDEALLY LENDS ITSELF FOR BORDER DUTIES, WHICH ARE SPLIT INTO COMPANY AND PLATOON AREAS OF TACTICAL RESPONSIBILITY, MR ANNING SAID.

THE COMMISSIONER SAID THE FORCE COMPETENCE FOR THE TASK COULD NOT BE DOUBTED.

"BY THE VERY NATURE OF THEIR JOB, POLICE

OFFICERS ARE

ACCUSTOMED TO UNDERTAKING A NUMBER OF TASKS AND TO WORK IRREGULAR HOURS. THEREFORE IT IS NOT ANTICIPATED THAT BORDER DUTIES WILL POSE ANY DIFFICULTY TO THE AVERAGE POLICE OFFICER; INDEED HE CARRIES OUT FAR MORE DIFFICULT TASKS IN HIS ROUTINE POLICE DUTIES.

"HE IS HIGHLY TRAINED, EVEN BEFORE DETACHMENT TO THE FPD, WITH AT LEAST TWO YEARS' SERVICE. THE SKILLS AND TRAINING REQUIRED BY A POLICE OFFICER FAR EXCEED WHAT IS REQUIRED ON THE BORDER AND THE ATTACHMENT WILL REPRESENT ONLY A SHORT SPAN IN THE OFFICER'S CAREER.

MR ANNING SAID THE FACT THAT MOST OF THE OFFICERS IN THE DETACHMENT WOULD BE CHINESE WOULD BE AN ADVANTAGE.

"ASIDE FROM