I REFER to your editorial headlined, 'Questions of life' (September 23), in which you asked: 'Should they (the police) be carrying firearms at all if they are acting as bailiffs for the Land Development Corporation?' It is not true that the policeman involved in the shooting case in Mongkok was acting as a bailiff.

He was at that time dutifully responding to a report of an assault case. And indeed, your paper reported the incident on September 22 saying that: 'A security guard inspecting a five-storey building earmarked for demolition found the street-sleeper in a rooftop flat. The guard sought help after allegedly being attacked. Three policemen arrived but they were held off at the top floor staircase by the man, who was wielding a chopper.' I must reiterate that at no time are police officers required to act as bailiffs for the Land Development Corporation and it is unfortunate that such a question appeared in your editorial.

B.Y.L. SMITH for Commissioner of Police