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How was the Police Force in the Post-War Years?

In 1941, the Japanese troops invaded Hong Kong. John Pennefather-Evans, then Commissioner of Police, ordered the police officers to give priority to public safety, and continue to maintain order even under Japanese rule. After the fall of Hong Kong, officers of other ethnicities were all imprisoned at Stanley; the Chinese police who stayed were forced to serve their enemy to make a living. The Japanese also recruited some local Chinese to be police officers.

After the Japanese surrendered in 1945, the Hong Kong Police Force resumed operations and all who served in the force were reinstated, including those who joined the force during the Japanese occupation. They identified by the letter prefix “J”, standing for Japan. Soon after, all letter prefixes were abolished.

Duncan William MacIntosh, who was Chief of Police of Malaysia, was appointed Commissioner of Police of Hong Kong in 1946. With his efforts, the Police Force doubled in size from 2,401 to 4,965 as of 1953. On 1 December 1949, the first female officer joined the police force.

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