"Why Tango in Paris, when you can Foxtrot in Kowloon?"
  • Walter's Blog.
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  • Introduction
  • About Walter
    • 1980 Joining Up - Grafton Street >
      • Arrival and First Impressions
      • First Week
      • Training
      • Passing Out
    • Yaumati Cowboy >
      • Getting on the Streets
      • Tempo of the City
      • Jumpers, pill poppers and the indoor BBQ
      • Into a Minefield.
    • Why Tango in Paris, when you can Foxtrot in Kowloon? >
      • Baptism By Fire
      • Kai Tak with Mrs Thatcher.
      • Home; The Boy Returns
  • 1984 - 1986
    • PTU Instructor & Getting Hitched
    • Having a go: SDU
    • Starting a Chernobyl family
    • EOD - Don't touch anything
    • Semen Stains and the rules
  • 1987 to 1992 - Should I Stay or Go?
    • Blue Lights, Sirens & Grenades
    • Drugs, Broken Kids & A Plane Crash
    • 600 Happy Meals Please!
    • Hong Kong's Best Insurance
    • Riding the Iron Horse
  • Crime in Hong Kong
    • Falling Crime Rates - Why?
    • Triads
  • History of Hong Kong Policing
    • History 1841 to 1941
    • History 1945 to 1967
    • Anatomy of the 50 cent Riot - 1966
    • The Fall of a Commissioner.
    • History 1967 to 1980
    • Three Wise Men from the West
    • The Blue Berets.
    • The African Korps and other tribes.
    • Getting About - Transport.
    • A Pub in every station
    • Bullshit Bingo & Meetings
    • Godber - The one who nearly got away.
    • Uncle Ho
  • Top 20 Films
    • 2001 - A Space Odyssey.
    • The Godfather.
    • Blade Runner
    • Kes
    • Star Wars
    • Aliens
    • Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    • The Life of Brian
    • Dr Strangelove.
    • Infernal Affairs
    • Bridge on the River Kwai.
    • This Is Spinal Tap.
    • Chung King Express
    • An Officer and a Gentleman
    • PTU
    • Contact
    • Saving Private Ryan
    • Family Guy Star Wars
    • Zulu
    • Hard Day's Night
  • The Long Read
    • How The Walls Come Down
    • War in Ukraine - the narrative and other stuff.
    • The Hidden Leader
    • The Big Game
  • Walter's Blog.
  • Home
  • Introduction
  • About Walter
    • 1980 Joining Up - Grafton Street >
      • Arrival and First Impressions
      • First Week
      • Training
      • Passing Out
    • Yaumati Cowboy >
      • Getting on the Streets
      • Tempo of the City
      • Jumpers, pill poppers and the indoor BBQ
      • Into a Minefield.
    • Why Tango in Paris, when you can Foxtrot in Kowloon? >
      • Baptism By Fire
      • Kai Tak with Mrs Thatcher.
      • Home; The Boy Returns
  • 1984 - 1986
    • PTU Instructor & Getting Hitched
    • Having a go: SDU
    • Starting a Chernobyl family
    • EOD - Don't touch anything
    • Semen Stains and the rules
  • 1987 to 1992 - Should I Stay or Go?
    • Blue Lights, Sirens & Grenades
    • Drugs, Broken Kids & A Plane Crash
    • 600 Happy Meals Please!
    • Hong Kong's Best Insurance
    • Riding the Iron Horse
  • Crime in Hong Kong
    • Falling Crime Rates - Why?
    • Triads
  • History of Hong Kong Policing
    • History 1841 to 1941
    • History 1945 to 1967
    • Anatomy of the 50 cent Riot - 1966
    • The Fall of a Commissioner.
    • History 1967 to 1980
    • Three Wise Men from the West
    • The Blue Berets.
    • The African Korps and other tribes.
    • Getting About - Transport.
    • A Pub in every station
    • Bullshit Bingo & Meetings
    • Godber - The one who nearly got away.
    • Uncle Ho
  • Top 20 Films
    • 2001 - A Space Odyssey.
    • The Godfather.
    • Blade Runner
    • Kes
    • Star Wars
    • Aliens
    • Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    • The Life of Brian
    • Dr Strangelove.
    • Infernal Affairs
    • Bridge on the River Kwai.
    • This Is Spinal Tap.
    • Chung King Express
    • An Officer and a Gentleman
    • PTU
    • Contact
    • Saving Private Ryan
    • Family Guy Star Wars
    • Zulu
    • Hard Day's Night
  • The Long Read
    • How The Walls Come Down
    • War in Ukraine - the narrative and other stuff.
    • The Hidden Leader
    • The Big Game
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YOUR CART

"Would you shoot somebody?"

"The testing ground of true leaders", trumpeted the advert. A dashing European inspector with a Chinese constable posed in the bright lights of Kowloon. That looks like fun.

Another advert promised a hectic social life, always an attractive offer. So I soon filled in the application slip from the back of Sunday Times. Then the invite arrived for me to attend an interview at the Hong Kong Government Office in Grafton Street, London.

I got on my suit, polished my shoes, sorted out a tie and headed south. I navigated from King Cross Station to Grafton Street using a map ripped from an old atlas. It's October 1979.

On arrival, shepherded into a waiting room with about ten other chaps; I noted most appeared older than me. It was clear that one or two were serving UK police officers. But, as I surveyed the room, I began having doubts.

First, I knew little or nothing about Hong Kong. Second, my morale hit the floor when someone mentioned training in Aberdeen. I knew Scotland well and did not fancy nine months up there, especially in winter.

Then into an interview. Before me sat Ms Annie Calderwood, a recently retired senior superintendent. On one side was Dick Lidster, a serving superintendent and on the other, a man from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

After introductions, I'm invited to speak about my interests. I'd rehearsed this. I covered the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, adventure training, boxing and my dodgy academic results. Finally, I offered up that I was bored with education and seeking adventure and a challenge.

"Would you shoot someone?" Ms Calderwood asked. Bloody hell, I did not see that one coming.

"Yes," I blurted out. "Well, it depends on the situation." Nice recovery.

"I presume the training covers that, rules of engagement and such. But yes, if my life or that of another was threatened." The knowing nods from the panel. I'd aced that one.

"What about the Chinese? Can you get along with Chinese people?." Lidster was now asking the questions.

"Well, Sir, I did share a room at University with a Malaysian Chinese student for a term. We got along fine." More nods of agreement. The FCO chap asked nothing.

For the next 20 minutes, Ms Calderwood lectured me about Hong Kong. She took in the place's local culture, food and unique status. I left the interview feeling that that went well.

Next, I was presented with a map and directed to visit three locations for medical screening. A test, I thought—urban navigation or something similar. At the first stop, a chest X-Ray, the second a hearing and eye test, and the third a range of motion exercises.

I'm disappointed that no one tried to ambush me on the route. Occasionally, I'd ducked into doorways to ensure no one was following me.

Next, back to Grafton Street to complete some forms, claiming a travel allowance in the process. Not bad. I'd had a paid job interview. I headed home, not expecting much.

Several weeks later, I'm called back to Grafton Street. More interviews and testing, no doubt. Arriving mid-morning, I joined about 20 other candidates for a lecture on Hong Kong. A movie follows, covering the work of the police. By lunchtime, Dick Lidster suggested we head to the pub down the road.

Wanting a clear head, I paced myself having only one beer as I anticipated another interview. Lidster and a couple of the others were getting stuck into the ale. Lunch dragged on with Lidster telling us stories of his adventures in Hong Kong.

Eventually, we headed back to the office. Next, a serving inspector on leave in the UK gave a talk, answering our questions as a boozed-up group struggled to stay awake.

One by one, we're called out of the room. Here it comes, I thought. More tests or bad news. A female Chinese clerk asked me, "When can you leave for Hong Kong?"

"Sorry, is the next stage of interviews in Hong Kong?" I'm confused.

"No, you've passed", she retorted. "When can you leave?"

I did some quick thinking as Christmas is approaching. "Early next year, I suppose."

"OK, you start at the end of March. I'll send you details by post."

Stunned. I took three questions at the interview. I was heading to Hong Kong to train as a police inspector. Several years later, in Hong Kong, I served with Dick Lidster. I asked him why he'd recruited me.

"You had a smart suit, polished shoes, a tie with a decent knot and seemed like a confident lad. Although, I was a bit concerned you didn't drink."

That was it!



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