H O N G KO N G P O LIC IN G SYSTEM

Logo of the Hong

Kong Police Force

Motto
We Serve with Pride
and Care

The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF),

also known as the Hong Kong Police
(HKP), is the largest disciplined service
under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong
. It is the world's second, and Asia's
first, police agency to operate with
a modern policing system It was
formed on 1 May 1844 by the British
Hong Kong government with a strength
of 32 officers. In 1969, Queen Elizabeth
II granted the 'Royal' prefix and the
HKPF became the "Royal Hong Kong
Police
Force".
Following
the
transfer of sovereignty in 1997, the
Royal Hong Kong Police Force was
renamed Hong Kong Police Force.[2]

H istory
The ethnic composition of the inaugural force

consisted of mixed Chinese, European

nationals or Indians.[1] Policemen from
different ethnic groups were assigned a
different alphabetical letter before their batch
numbers: "A" for Europeans, "B" for
Indians, "C" for local Chinese who spoke
Cantonese, and "D" for Chinese recruited
from Shandong Province. "E" was later
assigned to White Russians who arrived
from Siberia after the Russian Civil War.

 The

current Commissioner of Police is

Stephen Lo Wai-chung.[3] Including the
Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force and civil
servants, the force consists of about
40,000 personnel; which gives Hong
Kong
the
second
highest
police
officer/citizen ratio in the world as of
2014. In addition, the Marine Region with
about 3,000 officers and a fleet of 143
vessels, is the largest of any civil police
force.

30 April 1841, 12 weeks after the British

landed
in
Hong
Kong,
Captain
Charles Elliot established a police force
in the new colony. The first chief of
police was Captain William Caine,
who also served as the Chief Magistrate.
[7]

The recruitment of Europeans to the

force ceased in 1994, and in 1995 the
Hong Kong Police became responsible
for patrolling the boundary with China.
Prior to 1995, the British Army was
responsible for border patrol. 1997 saw
Britain's return of the sovereignty of
Hong Kong to mainland China. The Force
played a prominent role in the handover
celebrations and continues to perform
flag raising ceremonial duties to this day.

Structure
The Force is commanded by the

Commissioner of Police, who is assisted

by two deputy commissioners; a "Deputy
Commissioner Operations" supervises
all operational matters including
crime and a "Deputy Commissioner
Management" is responsible for the
direction and co-ordination of force
management including personnel,
training, and management services.

For day-to-day policing (O perations), the

Force is organized into six regions:

Hong Kong Island

Kowloon East
Kowloon West
New Territories North
New Territories South
Marine Region

The Force H eadquarters (M anagem ent) is

m ade
up
of
fi
ve
departm ents:

Operations & Support

Crime & Security
Personnel & Training
Management Services
Finance, Administration and Planning

D epartm ent (O perations and Support)

Police Force operational matters are coordinated by the

Operations & Support Department. Land Operations

and Support are divided into six regions, whereas marine
matters are managed by the marine police organized as
one Marine Region. Each land region comprises two wings,
the operations wing and support wing, and a traffic
headquarters (which is part of the operations wing). The
department is charged with the formulation and
implementation of policies, the monitoring of activities
and the efficient deployment of personnel and resources.
Operations Wing coordinates counter terrorism, internal
security, anti illegal-immigration measures, bomb disposal
commitments and contingency planning for natural
disastersthey
are
also
responsible
for
the
Police Dog Unit.

A O perations W ing
The Operations Wing consists of three sections:

Operations Bureau, the Police Tactical Unit

and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau.
Operations Bureau: Comprises the Operations
Division, the Counter-Terrorism and Internal
Security Division, and the Key Points and Search
Division which includes the Police Dog Unit. It
deals mainly with the staffing of operational
matters which include the formulation and
dissemination of relevant Force orders, boundary
security, deployment of resources and liaison with
the Hong Kong garrison.

 Operations Division

Regional Command and Control Centre provides the means

for exercising control over resources both at regional and district
levels. It also acts as an information centre for the passage of
information to the Headquarters CCC and other agencies.
Equipped with the Enhanced Computer Assisted Command and
Control System, each Centre receives 999 calls from the public
and provides a fast and efficient service to operational officers.
Emergency Unit comprises the ordinary uniformed policemen.
The unit is primarily tasked with regular patrol beats as well as
providing quick responses to emergency situations such as 999
calls, as well as a speedy and additional presence of uniformed
police on the ground to combat crime. An EU comprises a
headquarters element and four platoons which operate on a
three-shift basis.

 Police Tactical Unit

Special Duties Unit (SDU)

Airport Security Unit (ASU)

Counter Terrorism Response Unit

(CTRU)
created in 2009 as a means to deal with terror
threats in Hong Kong. The unit initially trained
with the NYPD Hercules Team.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau is a
special standalone unit within the Operations and
Support Wing. Its main responsibilities are
bomb disposal work both on land and
underwater. It also trains officers on explosives
related matters and inspects storage of
ammunition and explosives.

 The

Anti-Illegal Immigration Control Centre is

responsible
for
collecting
intelligence
and
monitoring operations in respect to illegal
immigrants from the Mainland and Vietnam.
Administration Formation implements policies laid
down by the Regional Commander and is responsible for
the Region's general administration. Its responsibilities
include community relations, staff relations, and
magistrates.
Crime Formation; investigates serious and inter-district
crimes. In addition, it collects, collates and evaluates
intelligence on criminals and criminal activity within the
Region.
The Traffic Branch Headquarters covers traffic
control,
enforcement
of
traffic
legislation
and
regulations, investigation of traffic accidents, promotion
of road safety, and implementing Force and Regional
traffic policies.

Support W ing
There are Support Wings in each of the

land regions. A Support Wing oversees the

execution and staffing of operational
support matters, including the formulation
of operational policies for both the regular
and Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force and
for updating kits and equipment. It is also
responsible for the various licensing
functions of the Force. The co-ordination of
all public relations activities is arranged
through the Police Public Relations
Branch. There are three branches in a
support wing:

 Traffic

branch
Headquarters
is
responsible
for
formulating
force
priorities, policies and procedures on
matters
related
to
traffic, cocoordinating their implementation and
monitoring their effects .
Support Branch is sub-divided into five
divisions:
Field Division is responsible for cocoordinating policy matters relating to
firearms, equipment, uniforms and
operational
procedures.
Projects
undertaken by the Division during the
year
included
the
force-wide

General Division handles policy matters relating to

station procedures; the security and management of
the Police Headquarters (PHQ) complex; and diverse
other duties. During the year, the Division played a
major role in the streamlining of station procedures;
making arrangements for the reallocation of offices
and facilities; formulating a new policy for parking at
the PHQ as required by the PHQ Redevelopment
Project and such other duties as co-coordinating the
Force involvement in the District Council elections.
Transport
Division is responsible for the
management and deployment of the Force fleet of
approximately 2,400 vehicles, driver establishment
and the acquisition of new police vehicles. It also
administers all policy matters relating to police
transport requirements.

Force Data and Access to Information Coordination Unit is responsible for co-ordinating the
Force response to devising internal policy on and
ensuring compliance with the provisions of the
Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and the Code on
Access to Information.
Police Licensing Office acts as the licensing
authority for a number of licenses and permits.

Police

Public
Relations
Branch
is
responsible for maintaining a high level of
public confidence by robustly projecting a
positive image of the Force through community
and media relations. It is sub-divided into two
branches:

Community Relations Bureau

The Information and Publicity Bureau

"B " D epartm ent (Crim e and Security)

Crime & Security Department is responsible

for the force policy regarding the

investigation of crimes and matters of a
security nature. Crime Wing consists of a
number of operational bureau and specialized
units. The operational bureau deal with specific
areas of criminal activity whereas the
specialized units provide support services to
operational units in the force and deal with
policy matters on various issues including child
abuse,
domestic
violence
and
witness
protection.
Security
Wing
provides
VIP
protection and security co-ordination, including
counter-terrorism.

C rim e W ing
Organized Crime and Triad Bureau
investigate major organized and serious crime involving all types

of
activities
such
as
theft/smuggling
of
vehicles,
human trafficking, firearms, vice, debt collection, syndicated
gambling and extortion. It also investigates triad societies and
their hierarchies with particular emphasis on their involvement in
organized crime. It begins arresting opposition political leaders
starting from 2015.[10]
Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB) is the Force's central cocoordinating body for intelligence on crime and criminality
which, after analysis and assessment, is disseminated to crime
investigation units as required. In addition, the CIB works closely
with the OCTB and other Crime Wing bureau in tackling triad and
organized crime syndicates. To strengthen the criminal
intelligence capability within the Force, the Bureau also
organizes related training courses and seminars for
investigators. Criminal Investigation Division or CID are subdivision located in each district.

 Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) investigates

serious commercial and business fraud,

computer-related crimes,
the
forgery
of
monetary instruments, identity documents and
payment cards, and the counterfeiting of
currency and coins. It liaises very closely with
international law enforcement agencies
on
exchange of intelligence and requests for
investigation from other jurisdictions alleging
criminal conduct in relation to commercial
transactions.
Narcotics Bureau (NB) investigates serious

drug
cases
such
as
importation
and
manufacture of illicit drugs, and gathers
intelligence in relation to major drug activities. It
also conducts investigations in partnership with
overseas law enforcement agencies whenever
there is a Hong Kong connection to international

 Support Group is made up of units

which provide a technical and

professional service to support
criminal
investigation,
including
Criminal
Records
Bureau,
Identification Bureau, Forensic
Firearms Examination Bureau,
Witness Protection Unit and Child
Protection Policy Unit. The group
also fulfils a liaison responsibility for
the Forensic pathology Service and
the Forensic Science Division.

Security W ing
- is responsible for a range of

security-related matters including

VIP protection, counter-terrorism
and security co-ordination.[12]
Witness protection Unit
VIP Protection Unit (VIPPU)
Police Negotiation Cadre

"C " D epartm ent (P ersonnel

and Training)
Personnel Wing is responsible for all core

human
resource
management
functions,
including recruitment, promotion, conditions of
service, staff relations and welfare matters.
In recent years, the Personnel Wing has also
usurped the near exclusive right in adjudicating
disciplinary
proceedings
brought
against
Inspectors
and
Junior
Officers.
The
establishment of a dedicated unit to preside
over disciplinary proceedings gave senior
officers in the Personnel Wing easy avenues to
influence the outcome of the proceedings.

 Hong Kong Police College is responsible for all

matters relating to training within the Hong Kong

Police except internal security, Auxiliary and
Marine Police training. Training provided by the
Police College includes recruit and continuation
training, crime investigation training, police driver
training and weapon tactics training. The
information
technology
training,
command
training, local and overseas management training,
some specialist courses and periodic courses on
firearms and first aid are also provided by the
Police College.
Hong Kong Police Band

"D " D epartm ent

(M anagem ent Services)
Information

Systems Wing has two

branches and one bureau dealing with
communications, information technology
and business services. Communications
Branch designs, acquires, examines and
maintains
all
force
communications
networks and equipment including radio,
video, navigational aids, speed detection
radar, mobile phones, pagers, office
telephones
and
mini
firing
range
equipment.

 Information

Technology
Branch
is
responsible for the planning, development,
implementation, operation and maintenance
of information technology systems. It has over
10,000 terminals installed throughout Hong
Kong supporting the Force in the spheres of
command and control, criminal records, crime
intelligence analysis, fingerprint identification,
reports to Police, human and financial
resources
planning
and
management,
transport management, licensing, and e-mail.

 Business Services Bureau coordinates the business needs of

the five departments of the Force. It consists of the Business

Services Division, the e-Police Division and the Major Systems
Division which acts as the System "Owner" for systems used
Force-wide.
Service Quality Wing is responsible for spearheading initiatives
to improve services provided to force customers both external
and
internal.
The
wing
comprises
three
branches:
Performance Review, Research and Inspections and
Complaints and Internal Investigations (C&II). The Wing is
responsible for implementing the force strategy on 'service
quality' which aims at promoting efficiency, effectiveness and
economy, whilst pursuing continuous improvement. The C&II
Branch which includes the Complaints Against Police Office
(CAPO) oversees the investigation and successful resolution of
all complaints made both externally and internally against
members of the force. The work of CAPO is closely monitored
by the Independent Police Complaints Council to ensure that all
complaints against police officers and traffic wardens are fully
and impartially investigated. The findings of CAPO are then
endorsed by the IPCC subject to their queries which is not rare
after the enactment of IPCC Ordinance in 2009.

"E" D epartm ent (Finance,

A dm inistration & P lanning)
Finance Wing is responsible for the financial

management, stores and internal audit of the

Force. Administration Wing is responsible for
civilian staff, force establishment matters and
the management of the Police Museum.
Planning and Development Branch (P&D)
coordinates strategic thinking and planning on
options for the operational policing of Hong Kong
into the foreseeable future. It is responsible for
maintaining and modernizing the police estate
and for running projects for the construction of
new police buildings/facilities.

R anks and insignia

The HKPF continues to use similar ranks

and insignia to those used in British police

forces. Until 1997, the St Edward's Crown
was used in the insignia, when it was
replaced with the Bauhinia flower crest of
the Hong Kong government. The crest of
the force was modified in 1997. The rank
structure, organization and insignia are
similar
to
that
used
by
the
Metropolitan Police Service until the mid1970s.[13]

 Hong Kong Police Force Hierarchy

The Hong Kong police service works

under the Bureau of Hong Kong and is

the largest disciplined service under
it. The police force of Hong Kong has
brought many laurels for the country
as it is ranked as Asias first and
worlds second police force which
operates with the modern policing
system.
The Hong Kong police force has
adopted its ranks structure and
insignia from British forces. Following
are the ranks and organizational

Entry R equirem ents

If you wish to join the Hong Kong Police Force as

Inspector or Constable, you are expected to

meet the requirements listed below.
Nationality
You must be a permanent resident of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region and have
lived in Hong Kong for at least seven years.
Academic and Language Proficiency
Requirements
You must also possess the following academic
qualifications before you can be considered for
the post of Inspector / Constable.

Inspector |Police Constable

Academic Requirements
Candidates should have a Bachelor degree from a Hong Kong university, or

equivalent; or
an accredited Associate Degree from a Hong Kong

tertiary institution, or a Higher Diploma from a Hong

Kong polytechnic / polytechnic university / Hong
Kong Institute of Vocational Education / technical
college, or a Diploma from a registered postsecondary college awarded after the date of its
registration, or equivalent; or
Level 3 or equivalent (Note 1) or above in five

subjects in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary

Education Examination (HKDSEE) (Note 2), or
equivalent; or
Grade E or above in two subjects at Advanced Level

Language Profi
ciency Requirem ents
met the language proficiency requirements of Level 1

results in the two language papers (Use of Chinese and

Use of English) in the Common Recruitment
Examination, or equivalent; or
Level 2 (Note 3) or above in Chinese Language and
English Language in HKDSEE or HKCEE, or equivalent; or
Applicants not meeting the above requirement may still
apply. They will be exempted from this requirement if
they have a pass in the English Language Proficiency
Test and Chinese Language Proficiency Test for Police
Inspector recruitment exercise
be able to read and write Chinese and speak fluent
Cantonese.

Police Constable/ Academ ic Requirem ents

Level 2 or equivalent (Note 1) or

above in five subjects in the Hong
Kong
Diploma
of
Secondary
Education Examination (HKDSEE)
(Note 2), or equivalent; or
Level 2 (Note 3) / Grade E or above
in five subjects in the Hong Kong
Certificate of Education Examination
(HKCEE) (Note 2), or equivalent; and

Language Profi
ciency Requirem ents
Level 2 (Note 3) or above in English Language

in HKDSEE or HKCEE, or equivalent;

Level 2 (Note 3) or above in Chinese Language
in HKDSEE or HKCEE, or equivalent. Applicant
without the minimum required Chinese
language proficiency standard may also apply
for the post. They will be referred to sit for and
must
pass
the
Government
Standard
Examination; and
be able to read and write Chinese and speak
fluent Cantonese.

N ote
For civil service appointment purpose, Attained with

Distinction in Applied Learning subjects (subject to a

maximum of two Applied Learning subjects), and Grade
C in Other Language subjects in the HKDSEE are
accepted as equivalent to Level 3 in the New Senior
Secondary subjects in the HKDSEE. Attained in
Applied Learning subjects (subject to a maximum of
two Applied Learning subjects), and Grade E in Other
Language subjects in the HKDSEE are accepted as
equivalent to Level 2 in the New Senior Secondary
subjects in the HKDSEE.
The subjects may include Chinese Language and

English Language.
For civil service appointment purpose, Grade C and

Grade E in Chinese Language and English Language

(Syllabus B) in the HKCEE before 2007 are accepted
administratively as comparable to Level 3 and Level

Physique
You must have a good physique as you

will be required to pass a physical fitness

test during the selection process. If you
are a male candidate, you should be at
least 163cm tall and weigh 50kg. For
female candidates, you must be at least
152cm tall and weigh 42kg. You must
have good eyesight and you are required
to pass an initial eyesight test without
the aid of any eyesight correction tools.

EssentialAttributes
Mature personality
Good physical fitness
Confidence
Effective communication ability

Commissioner of Police
(CP)
Mr LO Wai-chung,
Stephen

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Management

(DCP MAN)
Mr CHAU Kwok-leung, Alfred

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations

(DCP OPS)
Mr WONG Chi-hung, Tony

Under the five Departments, there are 11 Major

Formations, each commanded by an Assistant
Commissioner of Police or equivalent civilian
officer, except the Planning and Development
Branch which is commanded by a Chief
Superintendent of Police. Frontline policing is
delivered by six Regions, each commanded by an
Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Commissioner's Rank
Badge

Deputy Commissioner's Rank Badge

Senior Assistant Commissioner's

Rank Badge

Assistant Commissioner's Rank Badge

Chief Superintendent of Police - (rank below

Assistant Commissioner). Normally commands a
Branch or District Formation.
Senior Superintendent of Police - normally
commands Bureau, or is second in charge of a District.

Superintendent of Police - normally commands a

Headquarters Unit or Police Division
Chief Inspector of Police - normally second in
charge of a Headquarters Unit or Police Division.

Senior Inspector of Police - sub unit

commander

Inspector of Police - sub unit commander

Probationary Inspector of Police sub unit commander

Station Sergeant - sub unit commander or

second in charge of sub unit

Sergeant - sector commander, vehicle

commander

Senior Constable - beat patrol officer

Constable - beat patrol officer

BS Crim inology 4-1A

Sonza,Agustin Carlo
Lipio,Laurence
G am boa,Yhurie