Former face of Hong Kong police will no longer be travelling to UK for training after programme suspended

The coronavirus pandemic was cited as a reason for the suspension, but the British also pointedly mentioned the city’s new national security law

The move follows the suspension of a similar programme with the US last month

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A team of police officers in riot gear stand in formation on a road during a demonstration on the 23rd anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Wan Chai in July. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 9:23pm, 16 Aug 2020Updated: 12:00am, 17 Aug 2020

Amid worsening relations between Britain and Beijing following the imposition of the national security law on Hong Kong, the city’s police force will no longer be sending its former public relations chief and other officers to Britain for an extended training programme.

The force stressed that the decision was based on the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, which the British also cited, though the UK’s announcement confirming the suspension earlier this week also pointedly mentioned the security law, adding that whether the programme would continue in the future would be subject to review.

A Hong Kong police source said on Sunday that John Tse Chun-chung, formerly chief superintendent of the police’s public relations branch during the city’s months of social unrest last year, had been expected to undergo a one-year training programme in Britain from next month.

The former head of the police public relations branch, John Tse, speaks to the media at Police Headquarters in August of last year. Photo: Sam Tsang

Tse was the face of the police as the city was rocked by the months-long protest movement that erupted in June last year in opposition to a now-withdrawn extradition bill. For months, Tse had come under heavy criticism from the protesters and their supporters for the police’s handling of the demonstrations.

Earlier this year, however, he was transferred to become the commander of Kwai Tsing district.

A police spokesman declined to comment on training arrangements for individual officers, but stressed that it was the Hong Kong police who decided to suspend sending its officers to mainland China and overseas for training because of coronavirus concerns.