China plans national day to honour police

Event is confined to mainland, but one observer says it may send a warning to Hong Kong that ‘Big Brother is Watching You’

Commemoration is likely to be used to promote state power and highlight police role in fight against Covid-19

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The event will offer the authorities further opportunities to promote the police’s work. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 2:00pm, 26 Jul 2020Updated: 9:48pm, 26 Jul 2020

China will next year hold a national day to recognise the police’s contribution to society.

Observers said the annual event would be confined to the mainland for now, but might also send a message to Hong Kong following the introduction of a new national security law.

“The timing of China’s newly established Police Day is significant. It sends the anti-China protesters in Hong Kong a new signal that ‘Big Brother is Watching You’,” said Wenfang Tang, a social sciences professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

“Though for the time being this event seems only limited to mainland China, it may play an indirect deterrence role in Hong Kong under the newly passed national security law.”

The State Council announced that the first national Police Day would be held on January 10, a date already marked by police open days and other promotional events.

Designating a national police day is a way for the government to further recognise the contribution of the force, said observers.