Exclusive | Is there a future for foreign police officers in Hong Kong? | South China Morning Post
The Diminishing Role of Foreign Police Officers in Hong Kong
The article reports on the impending end of an era for the Hong Kong Police Force, with the number of expatriate officers significantly decreasing. By the end of next year, only 60 foreign officers are expected to remain, down from 82 in September 2023. This reduction follows a trend beginning in 2017, with several officers retiring, making 2023 a peak year for expat officer retirements.
Historical Significance and Future Implications
While some view the decline as regrettable, given the historical contribution of expatriate officers, it's considered inevitable. The reduction signifies a shift in the force's composition and a move towards a workforce primarily staffed by Hong Kong residents.
- The Hong Kong Police Force has a history spanning 173 years.
- The number of expat officers is expected to reach 60 by the end of 2024.
- The 30,000-strong force will transition away from its significant reliance on foreign personnel.
The era of expatriate officers in the 173-year history of the Hong Kong Police Force is expected to end in a decade as the last serving overseas staff call time on their careers.
The 30,000-strong force will see the number of serving expat police fall to just 60 by the end of next year after decades of domination by colonial administrators.
Some retired colonial officers and policing experts said it was sad to see their numbers slump, as they had played a significant part in the city’s history, but the sunset was “inevitable”.
According to official figures, there were 82 serving expat officers as of September 1, ranging from inspectors to assistant commissioner.
“Since the beginning of 2017, 10 officers have already retired and seven more will retire in the coming months, making this year the retirement peak for the serving officers on overseas agreement terms,” a police spokeswoman said.
She added that 15 more officers were expected to retire from the thin blue line next year.
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