Off-duty constable who was found with a prostitute faces disciplinary hearing The off-duty Hong Kong policeman caught with a prostitute in Shenzhen has been suspended from duty and may undergo disciplinary investigation. Police Commissioner Dick Lee Ming-kwai said he had received confirmation from the Public Security Division of Shenzhen yesterday afternoon that a Hong Kong police officer had been arrested for visiting a prostitute on the mainland. David Liu Hong-man, a constable stationed at Ngau Tau Kok, is under a 15-day detention order in Shenzhen and has been suspended from work, the police chief said. A Shenzhen police source said on Wednesday that Constable Liu was arrested with a prostitute on Tuesday night in a flat in the Shazuicun red-light district during an anti-vice operation. He was taken to Shenzhen Detention Centre on Wednesday evening and ordered to undergo re-education through labour. Mr Lee refused to go into the details of the case, but said that if any officer committed a criminal offence outside Hong Kong, the force would subject him to a disciplinary inquiry when the person returned to the city. 'In general, we will carry out an investigation, and if necessary, [we will] set up a [disciplinary] tribunal.' If an officer is found guilty he or she will be punished, Mr Lee said. He said punishments included verbal and written warnings, reprimand, severe reprimand and early retirement. The maximum penalty was dismissal. Mr Lee refused to comment on reports that Constable Liu had produced his warrant card and asked for release when Shenzhen officers found him with the prostitute. He said: 'If a police officer was requested to prove his identity, using the police warrant card would be one of the methods to do so.' Mr Lee said the force rarely received complaints about police officers breaching mainland laws while on holiday. 'When our officers go overseas, we expect them to observe and respect the laws of that place,' he said. 'I think our force is a very professional and a very high-quality force. We enjoy respect from the community of Hong Kong. I do appreciate there are minor cases of this nature, but in general, the image of the force will not be damaged.' Secretary for Security, Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong, also believed the arrest would not tarnish the image of the police force as it was an isolated case. 'Our police force is an outstanding team. Individual cases would not affect our force's previous good work for the public,' he said.