The IPCC was incorporated as a statutory body on 1 June 2009 when the Independent Police Complaints Council Ordinance(IPCCO) came into effect. The role and functions of the IPCC are to observe, monitor and review the complaint handling process and investigations conducted by the Commissioner of Police.
Five years have passed since the enactment of IPCCO, the IPCC has transformed from a “back-seat” review and monitoring body to a multi-faceted independent police complaint oversight organisation. 2014 is an appropriate time for taking stock of what the IPCC has achieved and reflect on its way forward.
The IPCC organised a symposium “The Police Complaints System in Hong Kong: Where are we heading?” in collaboration with the Centre for the Comparative and Public Law and Policing Studies Forum at the Centre for Criminology from the University of Hong Kong, with a view to mapping out the future development of the police complaints system in Hong Kong.
The symposium, held on 27 May 2014 at the Large Moot Court of the University of Hong Kong, aimed at strengthening the understanding of the IPCC as a monitor of police complaints and promoting the two-tier police complaints system, and also gathering views from the public and stakeholders regarding the two-tier police complaints system and the way forward for the IPCC.
The Honourable Mr Justice Robert Tang Ching, Permanent Judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and a former Chairman of the IPCC, officiated the symposium as the guest of honour. Also attended the symposium were members of the local judiciary and representatives from overseas oversight bodies. There were three main plenary sessions. In the first session, overseas speakers provided an overview of police complaints systems around the world, share their international experiences, and reviewed the systems from a macro perspective. The second plenary session featured an analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing the Hong Kong’s police complaints system. In the third plenary session, stakeholders and concerned groups shared their views and proposed strategies on how to achieve a balance between police powers and civil rights. All these valuable insights, perspectives and ideas will be very useful for the IPCC in mapping out the future development of the police complaints system in Hong Kong.
A special logo commemorating the 5th anniversary of the IPCC was created for use on stationery and letterhead.
