'Retired' officer printing banknotes
A former deputy police commissioner started running a banknote printing plant yesterday just days after leaving the force.
Peter So Lai-yin was appointed general manager of the former De La Rue plant, taken over by a government body to print cash for the territory's three note-issuing banks.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which bought the money-making operation, said Mr So effectively started yesterday and finished with the force on Saturday.
But a police spokesman says Mr So officially leaves the force at the end of April.
The 54-year-old's request for retirement was revealed last year and sparked controversy as he worked as deputy commissioner in charge of management to shore up force morale.
Mr So could not be contacted for comment last night. He told the South China Morning Post earlier criticism was unfair.
The authority's spokesman said the appointment was in the public interest because of his security skills.
The spokesman said the company wanted someone with integrity and someone with decades of police experience and Mr So 'fits the bill'.
