Editorial | Hong Kong police negotiators say much about life today
- New recruits also learn how to listen and make a life-or-death difference as Hong Kong faces its own challenges in uncertain times
The art of listening may not be the first quality most of us would list as a priority for police work, but we should be all ears and support Hong Kong’s efforts to ensure some officers may make a life-or-death difference as skilled negotiators.
The force is currently preparing 15 recruits for its police negotiation cadre, which currently has 95 members.
The Post recently saw officers going through a two-week training programme that included dramatic scenarios to help them learn how to deal with suicide attempts, family disputes, kidnappings and even terrorist attacks.
The programme’s lead trainer, Calvin Cheung Kin-pan, said the recruits quickly learned that successful negotiation was not about talking someone out of a situation, but rather knowing how to “listen to the subject and how they express their emotions”.
The approach is gaining attention around the world, and some veteran negotiators overseas even offer master classes to help civilians in daily life and business.
