Last of the Colonial Coppers
Four plane crashes, the SARS outbreak, bomb incidents, hostage-takings, suicides, murders and riots. Plus moving an airport overnight and preparing for a terrorist attack. I encountered many things in 35 years with the Hong Kong Police. It has been fun.
In early 1980, as I arrived in Hong Kong, the place immediately grabbed me, sweeping me into a new life. With twists and turns, it led to unexpected outcomes. Meantime, the Royal Hong Kong Police Force was still reeling from the efforts to stamp out corruption.
Memories of the near mutiny of October 1977 are still fresh in people's minds. A Force that gained a reputation for steadfastness in the riots of 1967 is now chastened. Taking a toll was the relentless work of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. This necessary intervention put paid to the idle remark, "The best police force money could buy."
On my arrival in Hong Kong, the newspapers were full of dark stories that the Force had assassinated one of its own. Inspector MacLennan's death caused an uproar. Media attention focused on allegations of murder involving the gay officer with tales of a high-level conspiracy. This single episode introduced me to the village atmosphere that pervades Hong Kong.
As I underwent training, the trickle of Vietnamese refugees entering Hong Kong turned into a torrent. This flood of humanity was to impact my police career profoundly. Unfortunately, it remained an issue until 2001, when I took my last repatriation flight to Hanoi.
North of Hong Kong, a restive giant, was awake, although 1997 and the return to Chinese sovereignty seemed light-years away. The Cold War was still ongoing; Britain had yet to fight for the Falklands. At the same time, China was starting to shake off the awful years of Mao's cultural revolution.
During my first week in Hong Kong, a small town called Shenzhen spread out north of me as I stood at the border.
Over the next 20 years, this area would explode with unprecedented development. The pace of change was never seen before in human history, giving rise to a city rivalling New York. Moreover, these changes saw China emerge as a strategic power to match the United States.
I had a ringside seat for this revolution of commerce and political power that shook the world and continues to reverberate today.
I find it astonishing to encounter residents of this breathtaking city with little knowledge of its history. So here, with my only aim to report things as I saw them, I give my take on Hong Kong.
Perhaps my small effort can help fill some of the gaps, albeit from the perspective of one of the last colonial coppers.
For the record, this is not an autobiography. Instead, it's an account that takes from many experiences yet is underpinned by actual events.
In early 1980, as I arrived in Hong Kong, the place immediately grabbed me, sweeping me into a new life. With twists and turns, it led to unexpected outcomes. Meantime, the Royal Hong Kong Police Force was still reeling from the efforts to stamp out corruption.
Memories of the near mutiny of October 1977 are still fresh in people's minds. A Force that gained a reputation for steadfastness in the riots of 1967 is now chastened. Taking a toll was the relentless work of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. This necessary intervention put paid to the idle remark, "The best police force money could buy."
On my arrival in Hong Kong, the newspapers were full of dark stories that the Force had assassinated one of its own. Inspector MacLennan's death caused an uproar. Media attention focused on allegations of murder involving the gay officer with tales of a high-level conspiracy. This single episode introduced me to the village atmosphere that pervades Hong Kong.
As I underwent training, the trickle of Vietnamese refugees entering Hong Kong turned into a torrent. This flood of humanity was to impact my police career profoundly. Unfortunately, it remained an issue until 2001, when I took my last repatriation flight to Hanoi.
North of Hong Kong, a restive giant, was awake, although 1997 and the return to Chinese sovereignty seemed light-years away. The Cold War was still ongoing; Britain had yet to fight for the Falklands. At the same time, China was starting to shake off the awful years of Mao's cultural revolution.
During my first week in Hong Kong, a small town called Shenzhen spread out north of me as I stood at the border.
Over the next 20 years, this area would explode with unprecedented development. The pace of change was never seen before in human history, giving rise to a city rivalling New York. Moreover, these changes saw China emerge as a strategic power to match the United States.
I had a ringside seat for this revolution of commerce and political power that shook the world and continues to reverberate today.
I find it astonishing to encounter residents of this breathtaking city with little knowledge of its history. So here, with my only aim to report things as I saw them, I give my take on Hong Kong.
Perhaps my small effort can help fill some of the gaps, albeit from the perspective of one of the last colonial coppers.
For the record, this is not an autobiography. Instead, it's an account that takes from many experiences yet is underpinned by actual events.
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