Police College Passes Out 127 Recruits as Force Announces Degree-Granting Status
HK01 · 10 SOURCESabout 15 hours ago7 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Police College held its passing-out parade on September 12, graduating 127 trainees including 17 probationary inspectors and 110 recruit constables. Commissioner of Police Chris Ching announced the college has become the first government department authorized to confer bachelor's degrees, with a free security and criminal investigation programme expected to launch by year-end. Deputy Commissioner for National Security Kan Kai-yen presided as reviewing officer before his retirement after 35 years of service.
Key Points
- Commissioner of Police Chris Ching announced the Police College has become Hong Kong's first government department to receive degree-conferring authority from the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications; a tuition-free Security and Criminal Investigation Honours Bachelor's Degree programme is slated to launch by year-end
- Deputy Commissioner for National Security Kan Kai-yen served as reviewing officer at the ceremony before officially retiring after 35 years of police service, warning that external forces continue interfering in Hong Kong and emphasizing the need for officers to prevent ideological infiltration
- Lai Yuen-man (黎遠汶), 34, a 10-year frontline veteran who earned his degree part-time in 2020, was among the new probationary inspectors; as a Police Negotiation Cadre member, he used active listening techniques to save a man in family crisis and now aspires to join the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau
- Chan Wan-yi (陳文意), 29, a former bank financial analyst who earned a master's in investment management from HKUST; she left banking after her father lost savings to an investment scam and received the Honour Baton for her outstanding performance
- Yuen Kai-ting (阮綺婷), 30, a former civil engineer who spotted a police recruitment poster at an MTR station and decided to join after learning about the force's diverse departments; she received the Commissioner of Police Academic Excellence Certificate
Why It Matters
The Police College's new degree-conferring authority marks a significant milestone for officer professionalization, offering serving rank-and-file officers a clear pathway to academic advancement without financial burden . Meanwhile, Commissioner Kan Kai-yen's retirement and his warnings about evolving national security threats—from external interference to ideological infiltration—underscore the complex challenges facing Hong Kong's next generation of officers as they take up frontline duties .
The Police College's new degree-conferring authority marks a significant milestone for officer professionalization, offering serving rank-and-file officers a clear pathway to academic advancement without financial burden . Meanwhile, Commissioner Kan Kai-yen's retirement and his warnings about evolving national security threats—from external interference to ideological infiltration—underscore the complex challenges facing Hong Kong's next generation of officers as they take up frontline duties .