Source: CCTV.com

06-28-2007 17:07

 

Christopher Hammerbeck said that Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world. That's a key factor in attracting foreign investment. Ten years after the handover some British still play a big role in Hong Kong's police force.

Michael Dowie joined Hong Kong's police force in 1972. Now he is Director of Management Services – and while Dowie's responsibilities have changed since 1997, he said the handover didn't change the police force.

"The changeover has worked pretty seamlessly as far as I'm concerned and as the police force is concerned. I'm still working for the same people that I worked with before 1997, and so policing has crossed the boundary before the handover and after handover, " said Michael Dowie, senior assistant commissioner of Hong Kong Police Force.

Hong Kong's police force employs 27,000 people. It is one of the largest metropolitan police forces in the world.

"I'd been visiting China a lot prior to the handover. And during my meetings and visits to the China, I saw many changes taking place, many exciting things happening. And I felt the handover was going to be an exciting period for Hong Kong and that after the handover, Hong Kong would continue to be an exciting place to live, " said Michael Dowie, "additionally, my wife indicated she was quite happy to stay in Hong Kong after 1997. And so we made that decision."

"Yes, I mean, only a couple months ago, one of my British colleagues turned around to me and said, 'Oh sir, it's been almost ten years after the handover. Who would've believed that the British officers would still be treated as well as they are treated. Who would've believed that we would still be getting promotion chances, going on courses, visiting the mainland on official duty visits," Michael Dowie said, "he personally was a bit doubtful after the handover. He thought that maybe the British officers might not be so well-treated. But, well, it's the opposite. The British officers have continued to be treated equally, in my view equally, with our local officers."

"We have a very strong discipline code, and we strive for high levels of police integrity to ensure that our officers give the best service to the public, and they give it honestly without favoring any particular party,"said Michael Dowie.

Hong Kong's police force was established in 1844. Ten years after the handover, it remains one of the best-trained police forces in the world.

 

Editor:Chen Ge