A judge ordered police to reconsider a decision to sack an officer whose alleged excessive debts were said to have impaired his performance.
Mr Justice William Stone yesterday ruled that the Force Disciplinary Tribunal was wrong to dismiss Ng Kam-chuen, 40, and ordered the Commissioner of Police to reconsider the sacking.
The 18-year veteran of the force owed various banks and financial institutions $435,000 after losing money on the stock market and foreign exchange, the Court of First Instance heard.
Mr Ng, who earned $19,100 a month as a constable, had to face minimum monthly payments of $45,000 to cover the loans by the summer of 1996.
In January 1997, he was told to face a disciplinary hearing after his financial plight came to the attention of his superiors.
Mr Ng denied a charge of contravening the police order that forbids excessive debt.
