XN000022-1996-05-08 — Page 38

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- 17.

Protection of visiting Chinese officials

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kam-lam and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

whether it will review the Police measures to protect visiting Chinese officials attending public functions in Hong Kong, so as to more effectively protect the personal safety of the officials concerned and to maintain public order at the locations; and

how it safeguards the personal safety of the disciplined services personnel carrying out such protection duties?

Reply:

Mr President,

End

(a)

The security measures adopted by the Police to protect visiting officials, whether they were from China or from any other country, have been very effective. So far as I know, no visiting official has ever been injured in Hong Kong, and only one Police officer was slightly injured when discharging his duties to protect a visiting official. As with all other Police operational matters, including in particular crowd control operations, the measures for protecting visiting foreign officials are reviewed constantly to ensure their continued effectiveness.

(b) Police officers deployed for protection duties are specially selected, trained and equipped to give protection up to internationally accepted standards. They are also trained on crowd management, for the safety of both the crowd and the officers themselves as well as the visiting officials. In addition, there are clear guidelines in the operational orders detailing the measures and equipment that should be used on different occasions. The commanding officers at the scene closely monitor the situation to ensure the appropriate number of officers are deployed and the measures taken are effective.