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SCMP Reporter

Will the police still be called the Royal Hong Kong Police Force?  No, the word 'Royal' which was added to the title with the Queen's permission in 1969 will be dropped. The name will revert to 'The Hong Kong Police Force'.

What about police insignia?  The Crown contained in the emblem will be replaced by the bauhinia insignia of the Special Administrative Region (SAR). The picture of a colonial trader dealing opium to Chinese will be replaced by a panorama of today's shoreline.

  But the uniforms of Hong Kong and mainland officers will remain different.

Will the police be under the command of the Public Security Bureau or People's Liberation Army?    The Basic Law says the SAR Government will be responsible for the maintenance of public order in the region. Hong Kong police will remain a separate entity from the Public Security Bureau.

  The law also says mainland troops in the territory will not interfere in local affairs, although they may assist the police if requested to by the SAR Government.

Are we going to hear different tunes from the police band?   The Happy Wanderer is to be retained as the force march. But Southdown Militia and British Grenadiers will be replaced by other music which the management is still considering.

Will the band members change their kilts and Macintosh tartan?   No, their uniforms will be unchanged, except for the force insignia.

Will all officers be required to be able to speak Putonghua?   Police management is now thinking about strengthening officers' Putonghua skills. Putonghua courses have been organised for officers since 1995. A total of 208 officers, including 21 expatriates, have attended the courses.

Will Hong Kong still be part of the Interpol network?   Yes, but there will be changes. The SAR will become a sub-bureau of China's Interpol instead of Britain's.

Will there be more local officers?   The force has already met its localisation target. More than half the officers at rank of superintendent and above are local. More information    Those with an interest in colonial police trappings can visit the Police Museum at 27 Coombe Road, the Peak. It has an exhibition of uniforms, some of which date back a century. Among them are the now-obsolete baggy shorts. For inquiries, call 2849 7019.

  For the latest police force information, the public may call a hotline, 2866 6166, or visit the police force's Internet page at: http://www.info.gov.hk/police/ index.htm 



Changes kept to a minimum for territory's law enforcers