Hong Kong’s police chief on Saturday revealed the force had received more than 6,400 applications for inspectors and constables between April and December last year after missing its recruitment targets for the past three years.
Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee, speaking to the media after attending the force’s passing-out parade on Saturday, said they had adopted “proactive recruitment strategies” to address the challenges, including university drives and experience days.
“From this financial year to December 31 last year, our overall applicant numbers were over 6,400 people, including probationary inspectors and constables,” Siu said.
The force previously said it aimed to recruit 240 inspectors and 1,350 police constables in the 2022-23 financial year.
Parallel traders buy stock in Hong Kong and resell it on the mainland at a profit.
“From the reopening of the border on January 8, we have continued to increase enforcement in black spots for parallel traders,” the police chief said.
Siu noted that 19 fixed penalty notices had been issued during recent enforcement operations.
“These operations will continue. We will not give parallel traders a chance to grow,” he said.
The Post observed the resurgence of suspected parallel traders in the northern district of Sheung Shui on Friday afternoon, with law enforcement officers conducting patrols in areas where these activities were previously rampant.
Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing chaired an interdepartmental meeting on Friday which reviewed the situation in different districts after the resumption of travel between the mainland and Hong Kong. Participants also planned operations in parallel trading hotspots in the city.
Authorities said they would step up enforcement and monitoring activities to tackle the issue.