Hong Kong police adopt ‘proactive recruitment strategies’ to address challenges after missing targets for three years
- Over 12 months in 2021-22 the force hired 170 inspectors and 484 constables but was short of its target of 195 and 1,350, respectively
- Commissioner blames low recruitment numbers on drop in Hong Kong’s working population and secondary school graduates
Hong Kong’s police chief on Saturday revealed the force had received more than 6,400 applications for inspectors and constables between April and December last year after missing its recruitment targets for the past three years.
Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee, speaking to the media after attending the force’s passing-out parade on Saturday, said they had adopted “proactive recruitment strategies” to address the challenges, including university drives and experience days.
“From this financial year to December 31 last year, our overall applicant numbers were over 6,400 people, including probationary inspectors and constables,” Siu said.
The force previously said it aimed to recruit 240 inspectors and 1,350 police constables in the 2022-23 financial year.
However, according to figures submitted to the Legislative Council on Wednesday, the police have not met their recruitment targets for the past three years.