HK posts for China police

TWO mainland Interpol officers have arrived in Hongkong to take up a one-year term as China's first police liaison officers in the territory.

Mr Wang Gang previously worked in the State Interpol office in Beijing, and his assistant, Mr Wu Shaoming, is from Guangdong Interpol.

They are both experienced policemen and will be based at the New China News Agency headquarters in Happy Valley.

Mr Wang was the deputy director (Interpol), of the National Chinese Bureau in Beijing, which is part of the Public Security Ministry.

Mr Wu was the Interpol liaison officer working with the bureau's Guangdong branch.

A China News Service report said yesterday that Mr Wang and Mr Wu would be working closely with their counterparts in Hongkong to ensure the maintenance of law and order in the territory in the run-up to the 1997 handover of sovereignty.

''They are not spokesmen for the Public Security Bureau in Hongkong,'' the report quoted a spokesman for China's Interpol as saying.

''They will not interfere with the work of the Hongkong police.'' A Hongkong police source last night confirmed the arrival of the two officers.

The source said arrangements were being made for them to meet the Commissioner of Police, Mr Li Kwan-ha, and his top aides as soon as possible.

They will be briefed on the work of the local police force.

Mr Li is expected to brief them on the force's fight against cross-border smuggling activities and the influx of illegal immigrants from the mainland.

The two Chinese police officers are also expected to be given a tour to enable them to see for themselves the work of various groups within the police force, the source said.