(OffBeat Article)

Police Magazine, jointly produced by the TV and Films Liaison Section of the Police Public Relations Branch (PPRB) and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), is celebrating its 25th year on television and was recently singled out and awarded for being one of the 10 (out of 33) most popular programmes produced by RTHK.

A communication link between the Hong Kong Police Force and the community, then as now, the objective of Police Magazine is to raise viewers' awareness of anti-crime measures, strengthen co-operation between the Force and the public, enhance transparency of duties of police officers and promote a positive image of the Force.

During the past 25 years, Police Magazine (once called Police 15, then renamed Police Call) has evolved over the decades with changes in production methods, a more professional and polished presentation style and continuous expansion in a variety of police topics, including crime re-enactments.

While RTHK is responsible for the programme's production, financing and technical support, the TV and Films Liaison Section undertakes research, liaison, quality control, planning and provides police inspectors as presenters and experts, who are frequently interviewed on location in the streets of their police districts.

Police inspectors are delegated to monitor the whole screening process of the show in order to select content that is current, interesting and topical. The Chief Inspector of the Section, Mrs Betty Lam, said that the Force puts much emphasis on the content and interpretation of cases covered by the programme, taking care to limit descriptions and depiction of the modus operandi of culprits to prevent copy cats, while at the same time providing enough detail to raise crime awareness, educate and engage viewers.

The thoroughly researched topics covered by the programme come as a result of continuous communication with police personnel from all police formations in all regions and districts, and from sources such as police circulars, newspapers and audience feedback. Programme content is also co-ordinated with seasonal crime trends. For example, during school break in the summer Police Magazine episodes are produced to remind young jobseekers not to fall prey to unscrupulous employers and job scams; while towards Lunar New Year, Police Magazine segments emphasise anti-crime and anti-extortion measures.

The programme also carries messages about road safety and Junior Police Call activities.

Police Magazine is broadcast from 7 pm to 7:30 pm every Saturday on ATV-Home - then repeated on Cable TV News Channel I at 10:30 pm on Saturdays, and at 3:30 am on Sundays. (Police Report - a five-minute English version of Police Magazine - runs on TVB-Pearl at 7:20 pm on Saturdays, and Sundays on ATV-World from 6:55 pm to 7 pm.

The latest addition to the Police Magazine team is Inspector Avina Lai Siu-wai, who joined the PPRB's TV and Films Liaison Section as a presenter in June. Miss Lai worked in the Uniform Branch as well as in the Detective Unit in Kwun Tong District before her posting to the PPRB.

"My present job mainly concerns public relations which is totally different from what I did in other units," said Miss Lai, who was a school teacher before joining the Hong Kong Police Force. Her training in the field of communication, majoring in public relations and advertising, however, has helped her meet the day-to-day challenges of her duties both behind and in front of the camera.

"The TV and Films Liaison Section constantly co-ordinates with the RTHK production crew concerning the presentation of cases and the visual impact of shots for Police Magazine," she said.

"Meetings are held to discuss the issues for each episode before production goes ahead and it usually takes about one week to do the shooting for each programme - although, it can take a lot longer than that to get used to speaking in front of the camera," she admits. "It is a real skill."

One of the most interesting and enlightening aspects of her work on Police Magazine said Miss Lai is the opportunity to experience the many facets of the Hong Kong Police Force as the programme's team prepares and presents the work and investigations of different formations and units in all five police regions.

Miss Lai works hand-in-hand with Inspector Maxim Kwok Mei-sum, who joined the TV and Films Liaison Section last November, and who has become a very professional, engaging and attractive on air presenter.

Miss Kwok said that her communication skills have been enhanced by appearing on camera, and by interviewing police officers in charge of different cases - which has also given her a better insight into police investigative techniques.

"One of the most satisfying rewards of working on Police Magazine," said Miss Kwok, "is when we receive calls from viewers who tell us they were prevented from falling prey to a criminal scam because they had seen one of our episodes on a particular case which had made them aware of the specific frauds and deceptions used by these culprits."

Police Report No.3

Issued by PPRB

End/1512 hrs, Wednesday October 21, 1998 (PP)

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