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The third Postgraduate Diploma in Public Order Studies (Crisis Negotiation) offered by HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education has officially commenced in September. The programme, recognised as QF Level 6 under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework, is also the first crisis negotiation course globally accredited as a Master Level equivalent. It has laid a key milestone for professional training of the Police Negotiation Cadre (PNC).
The programme, which lasts about one year, comprises five modules, namely Public Order and Disorder, Crisis Management and Adaptive Leadership, Human Rights and Law Enforcement, Contemporary Issues in Crisis Negotiation, and Advanced Professional Practices in Crisis Negotiation, to be taught respectively by Honorary Lecturer of HKU Dr Kwan Ming-tak, Dr Choy Bing-kong, Dr Young Chi-man, Dr Lee Fung-kam, and Honorary Consultant of PNC Dr Wong Kwong-hing through comprehensive and multiple-perspective discussions on crisis negotiation. The programme aims to strengthen the professional negotiation knowledge of the graduate students and further enhance the operational effectiveness of PNC.
PNC held the inauguration ceremony in the Police Officers’ Club on September 21. Assistant Commissioner (Operations) Lui Kam-ho and Programme Director Dr Kwan Ming-tak were invited as officiating guests at the ceremony. In his speech, ACP (Operations) expected the Programme students to transform the learned knowledge into practice, uphold the values of PNC to safeguard people from crisis with sincerity, nobility and commitment, and keep demonstrating the professionalism of PNC in different positions “Serving Hong Kong with Honour, Duty and Loyalty”.
Programme Director Dr Kwan commended PNC as one of the most professional negotiation teams worldwide with high standing in crisis negotiation internationally. Dr Kwan reminded the students that they should allocate time wisely, utilise different information platforms for academic materials flexibly and integrate academic theories with their practical experience in the past so that their practical skills in handling criminal cases concerning personal safety and emergency are enhanced.
During the ceremony, Officer Commanding PNC Liauw Ka-kei introduced the 17 PNC members who had been recommended to join the programme. Their profiles range from Police Constable to Chief Inspector with one to seven years of service in PNC, and all of them are bachelor’s degree holders. Finally, on behalf of the students, Liauw thanked the support of the Force and the management of HKU for enabling resumption of the programme after 2015, and promised to keep practising the Cadre’s motto - "Who Cares Wins". The students have had part of their tuition subsidised by the Operations Wing, which encourages Force members to grasp learning opportunities in their spare time.
