Chan will take the helm this week in succeeding Kenneth Kwok Ka-chuen, sources said, adding Kwok will be reassigned to become chief commander for Hong Kong Island.

A veteran in intelligence collection and anti-terrorism, Chan first joined the force as an inspector in 1998 after graduating from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which was also Kwok's alma mater.

He had trained in various colleges, including Beijing's Tsinghua University, the Australian Institute of Police Management, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and the Royal College of Defence Studies. During his early days in the force, he oversaw frontline command, mobile units, security intelligence and personnel management.

More recently, between 2014 and 2016, Chan was seconded to the Security Bureau. Two years later, he was transferred and promoted to lead the narcotics division as well as the cyber security and technology crime bureau.

In 2019, Chan was promoted to chief superintendent and one year later, assistant police commissioner. The city currently has 10 assistant commissioners.

The force's public relations branch was first established in 1967.

However, it was upgraded to the public relations wing last month as part of the force's aim to enhance its public image.

The wing is made up of four bureaus: community relations, media liaison and communication, strategic communication as well as information and publicity.

The wing also produces various television programs such as OffBeat On Air and biweekly newsletter OffBeat.