Spokesperson of the Hong Kong Comprehensive Police Force

Chapter 405: New Era, New Look

With the concerted efforts of both Hong Kong Island and the motherland, Hong Kong Island has officially entered the countdown to returning to the embrace of the motherland.

At eight o'clock in the morning on June 30, 1997, Zhou Quan gathered all the police officers under his command in the temporary operations room in the police force's Tai Kwun parking lot.

According to the organization, the Security Department's Operations Group does not belong to the uniformed members of the police force.

Even during working hours, security officers can wear plain clothes.

But today, Zhou Quan specifically requested that except for Guan Wenzhan's G4 VIP protection team, all other personnel must wear police uniforms.

Because once it’s twelve o’clock tonight, starting from the early morning of July 1st, Hong Kong Island will completely enter a new era of returning to the embrace of the motherland.

Following Hong Kong's handover ceremony, when the national flag of the motherland begins to fly over Hong Kong, all of Hong Kong's disciplined forces will change their uniforms.

The original characteristic symbols of foreigners, such as cap badges and epaulettes, will be based on the style of the SAR government after Hong Kong's return.

But at this critical moment, all members of the Security Department's action team need to participate in the security mission.

Changing clothes in the early morning hours will inevitably affect security tasks.

At this critical juncture of the handover of sovereignty of Hong Kong Island, Zhou Quan does not want any mistakes to occur.

So Zhou Quan prepared to let his brothers show the new era's look more than ten hours in advance.

If the current system of Hong Kong Island were to be followed, Zhou Quan's behavior would obviously be against the rules and would undoubtedly be a slap in the face of the Governor's Office authorities.

However, the last white governor of Hong Kong was about to leave, so why would Zhou Quan care about his opinion?
From the time he joined the police force to the time when Zhou Quan gained some real power, he was a staunch supporter of the motherland.

Today, Zhou Quan’s behavior may be a bit out of line, but the police force and the SAR government from tomorrow onwards will obviously not hold him accountable for this matter.

Who cares about the attitude of the foreigners? Anyway, Sir Quan doesn't care at all.

With his hands behind his back, Zhou Quan stood as straight as a pine tree, his sharp eyes sweeping over all the brothers in front of him.

At this moment, except for the brothers of the G4 VIP protection team who are still wearing suits.

The brothers from other groups were all wearing the operational uniforms that the police force was about to replace.

It was not a formal military uniform like a suit, but a dark blue windbreaker and a beret.

Under the jacket, there are shirts of different colors.

Non-commissioned officers wear blue shirts, while officers above the rank of inspector wear white shirts.

All the brothers in uniform are dressed the same except for the color of their shirts and their police numbers.

Most importantly, their epaulettes and cap badges were completely blank.

These positions are naturally reserved for the police force logo after Hong Kong's return.

"Everyone, start changing clothes!"

Looking at the hundreds of elite soldiers under his command, a smile appeared on Zhou Quan's lips.

Under the order of their boss, four constable-level superintendents Zhou Xingxing, Luo Danian, Lu Qichang and Guan Wenzhan took action personally.

Together with other police officers from the Security Department's operations team, he began to distribute brand new and shiny police rank shoulder straps and cap badges to his brothers.

Even Guan Wenzhan’s G4 VIP protection team is no exception.

Although they needed to wear plain clothes for security missions.

But it was obviously impossible to forget about distributing the SAR government police emblem. After watching his brothers helping each other and changing their shoulder straps and cap badges in an orderly manner, Zhou Quan's excitement became more and more obvious.

As for Zhou Quan himself, he had naturally already changed to the new police logo long ago.

A Bauhinia emblem of the Special Administrative Region, plus a four-pointed star similar to the one used by the police departments in mainland China, is currently being carried on his shoulders.

These SAR Police Force logos were personally put on him by Au Wing-yan this morning.

In less than ten minutes, the spirits of all members of the Security Department's action team were immediately refreshed.

This purple gold flower regional emblem and four-pointed star flower are much more pleasing to the eye than the foreign crown and Bath Army star.

"Everyone, pack your equipment and start setting off according to your established plan!"

With a slight nod, Zhou Quan gave an order and hundreds of police officers took action instantly.

The invisible tanks of the Security Department's action team, along with camouflaged communications command vehicles and other special police vehicles, drove out of the parking lot of the police station's Tai Kwun one after another.

According to the security plan that Zhou Quan had already formulated, they began to go to various important areas to participate in and lead the operations in the next ten hours.

In just fifteen minutes, only two senior police officers, Zhou Xingxing and Guan Wenzhan, and elite police officers selected from their two teams were left by Zhou Quan's side.

"Let's take action too!"

After calling his two trusted generals, Zhou Quan walked straight towards an invisible chariot.

"Destination: Harbour Plaza Hotel, Hung Hom, Kowloon."

At tonight's Hong Kong Island handover ceremony, the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Central is undoubtedly the main stage.

However, in Zhou Quan's heart, the Harbour Plaza Hotel on Metropolis Avenue in Hung Hom, Kowloon is the core location that deserves his most attention.

Looking at the entire Hong Kong Island, the Harbour Plaza Hotel is not considered the most high-end and luxurious hotel.

But in the next two days, the weight of Haiyi Hotel has increased countless times.

Because the delegation from the motherland will be staying in the Harbour Plaza Hotel, which is closest to Kai Tak Airport.

Not only Mr. Qian, Mr. Wang, Mr. Zhou and other bigwigs of the return preparatory committee will go to the Haiyi Hotel, but the chief elder of the Presbyterian Church of the Motherland will also come in person with his wife.

As the actual executor of the police force in the entire Hong Kong Island handover ceremony, Zhou Quan must of course focus his work on the Harbour Plaza Hotel.

As for the conference and exhibition center, Luo Danian has arrived early to take charge of the command.

Anyway, before eight o'clock tonight, the protagonists at the Convention and Exhibition Centre are the last white Governor of Hong Kong and officials from the Governor's Office.

Zhou Quan would not completely neglect their security issues, but he would not make a special trip to check on them either.

On the surface, it was just a formality to ensure that the farewell ceremony for the last white Governor of Hong Kong went smoothly.

After Zhou Quan drove the Security Department's invisible tank through the Hung Hom Tunnel, he was immediately joined by brothers from the West Kowloon Police District.

"Sir Quan, long time no see!"

The next moment, a familiar voice slowly sounded in Zhou Quan's communication headset.

"We, the West Kowloon Operations Department, will fully cooperate with your Security Department's work today and tomorrow."

Senior Superintendent Cheng Song-yan, the head of the West Kowloon Operations Department and Zhou Quan's former boss, personally led the elite officers from various departments in West Kowloon to cooperate with Zhou Quan in the security work around the Harbour Plaza Hotel.

(End of this chapter)