Hong Kong police accept 137 city students at mainland Chinese universities following year-long talent trawl

Hong Kong’s police commissioner has said 137 students from the city in their final year at mainland Chinese universities have been accepted into the force following a recruitment drive targeting young residents living across the border.

Police chief Raymond Siu Chak-yee on Saturday said the force had received 686 applications from Hong Kong students on the mainland since the university-targeted exercise launched in November last year.

“Our recruitment strategy will be continuously reviewed in the hope that we can be more effective in recruiting outstanding people to join the force,” he said after attending a police passing-out ceremony.

Hong Kong police ease recruitment criteria to boost flagging interest

The initiative is part of a raft of measures to reverse flagging interest in joining the force, allowing eligible young people to attend talks and file applications during special recruitment events held by Hong Kong police in mainland cities.

The acceptance rate of about 20 per cent during the mainland university recruitment drive is higher than those recorded by local efforts to attract personnel.

In the year ending March 31, the force fired 554 recruits after receiving 4,606 applications for rank-and-file positions, an acceptance rate of 12 per cent.

Siu said police had received significantly more applications this year, with a decision in May to relax weight, height and language requirements paying off.

“We are very encouraged to see that since May this year, the number of people applying for police constable roles has increased by 64.5 per cent compared with the same period last year, and the number of applications for inspector has increased by 59.5 per cent,” he said.

The force also adjusted its fitness test in September for candidates hoping to join its ranks.

Hong Kong police adopt ‘proactive recruitment strategies’ to address challenges

Official figures show the force had 5,911 vacancies as of March 31.

Junior Police Officers Association chairman Lam Chi-wai said that while he recognised efforts to improve recruitment, he did not believe they could effectively address the personnel shortage. A “structural” pay rise might prove a better incentive given the unique nature of police work, he said.

“Despite a staff shortage of several thousand people, our workload has not decreased but instead increased in recent years,” Lam said. “We have always been at the forefront of society, but is our remuneration proportional to our work? Personally, I don’t think so.”

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He said the largest police union had commissioned a local university to evaluate the remuneration package using research on the hardships faced by officers, including work pressure and issues in their social lives.

A final report is due to be submitted to the force early next year.

The starting monthly salary for a constable, the most junior rank in the force, is about HK$27,000 (US$3,440). Inspectors earn around HK$48,000.

Siu on Saturday also said police presence would be ramped up at polling stations for the coming district council election on December 10, with at least two officers to be deployed to each site.

Patrols would also be increased at “strategic locations” on the day, and plain-clothes officers would keep an eye on “suspicious people”, with quick response units on standby, he added.