Retiring policeman Tang How-kong's ready to roll with the times
Retiring policeman Tang How-kong says you can't fight world trends, and the police force will have to adapt accordingly
Extending the working lives of Hongkongers is just "a matter of time" as it is a worldwide trend, says senior assistant police commissioner Tang How-kong, who retires this week.
Without later retirement, the government would face a brain drain of capable, experienced employees to the private sector or non-government organisations when they reached retirement age, the force's director of management services said.
Tang, 56, will turn in his badge on Friday and go on pre-retirement leave. He said delayed retirement was necessary because of Hong Kong's ageing population and low birth rate.
"Extending retirement age is in growing demand in the city. This will be a natural development," he said.
Hong Kong does not have a law that stipulates a retirement age, but civil service practice is 55 in general for disciplined services such as the police, 57 for certain disciplined ranks, and 60 for other civil servants.
The Junior Police Officers' Association wants a flexible scheme, giving officers the choice of extending their contracts twice - each for two and a half years.
In recent years, some officers have switched to higher-paying jobs in financial institutions and regulatory bodies like the Securities & Futures Commission, where their skills are in growing demand.
