Police chief: applications surging after rule changes
Police Commissioner Raymond Siu said on Saturday that there's been a dramatic increase in applications from would-be officers after an easing of recruitment requirements in May last year.  Speaking after a graduation ceremony at the Police College, Siu said the force received 9,690 applications between April and December last year. That compared with just 7,997 applications in the full year to March. Calling the results “encouraging”, Siu said the force had been rolling out new recruitment measures, including its Diploma of Applied Education – Police Cadet Training Programme, which is being run in partnership with three education institutions.  “The first round of applications for this programme has started already … So far we've seen enthusiastic responses. I urge students who left secondary school or those aged 21 or above to apply if they are interested in the programme,” Siu said. Last year, the force relaxed recruitment standards in the face of a manpower crunch and disappointing recruitment numbers.  Under the changes, the minimum height and weight rules for officers were scrapped, while candidates were also allowed to wear spectacles or contact lenses in eye tests. Requirements for language qualifications were replaced by written tests. Asked whether the force may set up a new department, or increase manpower following the enactment of national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, Siu said he could not disclose "highly confidential information”. “The National Security Department of the force is the main department to handle issues in relation to national security, but we also have the entire force to work with the unit,” he said. “We will implement the principle of abiding by the law, punishing violations of the law, and enforcing the law strictly. Safeguarding national security is not only the responsibility of the force but the duty of every member of the public," he added.