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SCMP Reporter

THE Commissioner of Police, Mr Li Kwan-ha, yesterday steadfastly refused to give up his No 1 car licence plate, claiming that to do so would be detrimental to the morale and pride of the force.

  ''Historically, traditionally, the No 1 plate is synonymous with the force, the command and leadership of the force, which is the mainstay for Hongkong's security and stability,'' Mr Li told the Legislative Council's Public Accounts Committee.

  ''When the balloon goes up, our many fine young men and women are working in the street. If No 1 comes up it has a tremendous morale-boosting effect,'' he said.

  Legislators are trying to wrest the No 1 plate from him so it can be auctioned for charity. It would be likely to bring a more handsome return than the record $9.5 million paid for the No 2 plate given up by the Financial Secretary Mr Hamish Macleod.

  But Mr Li said he believed that forsaking his plate would be detrimental to the ''history, tradition and pride of the force''. He said he had no intention of giving it up, even if the proceeds were to go to police welfare.

  He dismissed finding a suitable substitute.

  ''Anything else will be damaging, breaking the tradition and the proud record we hold,'' he said.

  Local police staff associations threw their weight behind the commissioner. They said that No 1 was sentimental to officers of all ranks.

  Mr Li said that since he was charged with running the police force, and making sure it was efficient, it was his duty to ''resist and resist strongly'' anything that would be detrimental to it.

  ''And anything that will be detrimental to the tradition of the force will be detrimental to the wellbeing of Hongkong and its people,'' he said.

  ''Unless there is any other ulterior motive, my stand is firm,'' said Mr Li to chuckles from the legislators and spectators in the public gallery.

  The Secretary for the Treasury, Mr Yeung Kai-yin, said the administration would have the final say on what to do about the No 1 plate. But he promised serious consideration would be given to Mr Li's views.

  Mr Li said he and the force had been leaders in charity and had given generously, without claiming tax relief.

  But he stressed the present issue was not one of revenue-raising or donating to charity.

  He maintained that he did not own the plate personally. It belonged to the position of commissioner and always came with the job.

  The Chairman of the Local Inspectors' Association, Mr Robert Chau Chuen-kung, said the No 1 plate had been a century-long symbol of the police force.

  ''I think the material gain from auctioning the licence plate is nothing compared to its symbolic significance to the force,'' he said.

  If an undesirable element bid successfully for the plate it would make a mockery of the police force, he said.

  Expatriate Inspectors' Association chairman Mr David Scott said he would not like to see the police lose No 1.

  ''It's a very special number. It could reflect the status of the force. I don't think any other number can ever give the same feeling and status,'' he said.

  The president of the Superintendents' Association, Mr Chris Glover, said: ''It's his car. It's his decision.''   The programme of auctioning licence plates is to be expanded to try to satisfy public demand.

  The Commissioner for Transport, Mr Rafael Hui Si-yan, said yesterday that the bi-monthly Saturday auctions would be extended from half-day to whole day to clear the backlog of 3,000 requested plates and the disposal of 40,000 unallocated lucky numbers.

  The plan would be implemented by the end of this year provided sufficient auctioneers were found.



No 1 is police force's symbol of pride, says Li