Contrary to the assertions made in your editorial of August 18 headlined, 'Police checks', the Hong Kong Police Force investigates all complaints against Police in a thorough and impartial manner.
This is done by the Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO) which upon completion of an investigation where an allegation of a crime such as assault has been made, then refers the complaint to the Secretary for Justice who considers whether or not sufficient evidence exists to support a criminal offence.
If there is, then a criminal prosecution will be instituted. In 1997 and 1998 a total of 22 officers were prosecuted, with the outcomes ranging from custodial sentences to acquittal.
Furthermore, the Hong Kong Police complaints investigation system is closely monitored by an independent oversight body, the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC). The IPCC plays a significant role in ensuring that transparency prevails. All complaint cases are carefully scrutinised by the IPCC to ensure that CAPO's investigation is impartial.
Police officers do have the right to be presumed innocent unless there is adequate, reliable evidence to the contrary. This applies equally in criminal and internal disciplinary proceedings. It is therefore wrong to assume, as your editorial implies, and there is some minimum proportion of complaints which must be genuine and should therefore be substantiated. What is important is that all cases are thoroughly scrutinised by IPCC members to ensure that the CAPO investigations are both thorough and impartial.
JEAN CHAN for Commissioner of Police
