Royal Hong Kong Police

(1984 - 1987)

香港 (Heung Gong - The Fragrant Harbour)

Photo: Daryl Chapman

"We eventually arrived at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak airport on a very hot, sticky (and ominous) Friday 13th July 1984. We were now Gweilos (literally ghost men) and considered 'foreign devils'. Venturing from the air-conditioned Cathay Pacific 747 Jumbo aircraft cabin and onto the mobile steps provided a new experience – humidity. It felt as if we had walked into a wall of heat as we descended onto the tarmac."

Bussed from Kai Tak to PTS on HK Island near Aberdeen

Police Training School & Brick Hill behind.

PTS Aerial View

PTU Saracens on the Range

CP Farewell Parade 1985

"PTS had the look of a university campus with classroom blocks, administration buildings, and sports grounds. However, it was the parade square, firing ranges and small marching groups of bare-chested students moving between classes dressed in shorts, boots and caps that defined the nature of my temporary home."

Summer Kit

Exercise Kit

Winter Kit

Mess Kit

PTS Barber

Winter Uniform

AR15, PTS Upper range

Officers Mess

Mess Night Olympics

Door Hanging

Mess Rugby

Door Hanging Winner

Soft Combat

Coxless Eights

Something to do with balloons

Leadership Camp

Camp Convoy

"Breaking camp next day, we were back on the PTS bus. The final job at PTS was the ceremonial building traditional mountain of foul-smelling and filthy fatigues outside our accommodation block, signalling another Leadership Camp was over."

Out and About in Hong Kong

"The end of November heralded my twenty-seventh birthday. To celebrate, the seven Gweilos were up for a night out, and in true HK style, the suggestions ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. We picked the latter and, settling for nothing less than black tie, a table booking was made for Hong Kong’s premier prestige dining location, ‘Chuck–E–Cheese’ in Tsim Sha Tsui East. Whilst we hoped the black-tie ensemble would suggest good behaviour, in retrospect we appeared more menacing in a 'Reservoir Dogs', gangster-esque style. No bloody gangland assassinations occurred so, with stomachs lined, we disappeared into the heart of the ‘Wanch’, our black tie and Chuck-E-Cheese party hat combo ensuring we would blend in perfectly."

Escape From Hong Kong

Macau Marathon, Nov 1984

Christmas Day 1984, Thailand

Ringside Seats as our contender replenishes his spent cash

Fergus vs Phuket Professional

Philippines 1985

On day two a military coup ousted President Marcos. I met another tourist - a cop from Sweden - so we headed to a hilltop military radio station (HQ of the Police Command of Puerto Galera). The officers on duty messaged our forces with our location as the coup was now international news.

Final Mess Night & Passing Out Parade

With Frank, looking after (soon to be new CP) Ray Anning.

PI 265 - 267 Squads Final Mess Night With 267 Course Instructor Paul.

RHKP PI 265-267 Passing out Parade, 23 March 1985. RHKP Video

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttstyIS80-k)

Leading PC (QQ) Squad with Tony & Stephen (later to become CP)

PI 267 Baton from CP Roy Henry

23 Mar 1985

Marching Off - Job Done.

Eight PI's of 267 Squad Passing Out.

Posted to Tsuen Wan District, New Territories

Language Skills

"As I approached the MTR Station, my green khaki uniform caught the attention of a middle-aged, western-looking couple ...

“Do … you … speak … English?”

I felt it was my duty as a Scotsman to be honest,

“Yes, a little”.

SDU - 'The Flying Tigers'

"The joining instructions for the SAS-trained Special Duties Unit (or Fei Hu Dui) selection course were painfully clear. There was a need for high levels of fitness, stamina and resilience. This included the initial phobia-testing exercises – no more was said about that, and for good reason, but I did get through it."

TW CID 1985 - 1987

Reserve Team 'C' DI's Office

Bai San Ceremony, CID Daai Fong

District Crime Squad (DCS)

Daai Sik Wooi

"I was taking over DCS 1, previously led by Dave my fellow Scottish D/IP, and before going on leave he arranged a Daai Sik Wooi (literally, big eating party) to introduce me to the team."

Detective Training Wing (DTW)

D/IPs - fresh out of the box

DTW ... D/IP done & dusted

With D/Sgt & D/Cons & Instructor

TW Photo Day

Sat with plain clothes colleagues waiting for the photographer to corral TW staff for the Station photo, c. 1986.

TW Scene Locations of the Sad, Tragic & Lighter Moments Covered in the Book

CID Notebook

Git Joh Faan

Sat 13 December 1986

"When the big day came, it was a sunny winter’s day. After the church service, photos were taken at the famous Tea Gardens then to the new Police Officers Club in Causeway Bay for the reception. Ruth & I flew off to Bali the next day."

An Unwelcome Prophecy

Mark Stuart Hurley, IP, Marine, RHKP

"A forgotten prediction, forewarned in London three years earlier arrived, literally, on our doorstep on 28 January 1987. Opening the door to three fellow PI colleagues they came with news that Mark, Falklands War veteran and recently one of our wedding Guard of Honour, died on duty that day on the waters of Hong Kong. The prediction was based on attrition rates that 1 in 6 Gweilos would not survive their first tour. Sadly, it was proven once more."

New HKP Cap Badge with Bauhinia Star

A Looming Handover

"The announcement in 1985 that the RHKP was implementing a Localisation Policy was to have a profound effect on some expatriate officers. This was, in effect, the early introduction of a system to ensure a timely succession plan for local (Chinese) officers to occupy the most senior positions in the Force for the run-up to 1997. The future for many expatriate officers, in terms of achieving a full pensionable career, depended on the answer. An important decision had to be made with uncertain information, but to be fair this was the world we inhabited daily, albeit not always connected to international affairs."

Gwan Dai

"As a farewell to DCS 1, Ruth and I invited the team to our flat in Beaconhill. Reminding them of the story of the wild Scottish haggis, we produced one (procured from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel). In return, the team presented me with a bronze Gwan Dai, protector of policemen and criminals. It would grace every office I occupied for the remainder of my service - just in case!"

Circumnavigating the Globe

Government quarters emptied and packed-up to travel eastwards on an 'eventful' backpacking trip home via Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, LA, DC & NYC.