New Zealand Police is planning further exchanges with officers from the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), which has been accused of using excessive force against civilians.
One of the topics of discussion expected to be raised during a visit to New Zealand by HKPF staff planned for early next year is "community policing practice".
A former journalist and Hong Konger who witnessed the HKPF's actions during the 2019 protests says it would be concerning if New Zealand officers were to receive any presentations on that topic from the Hong Kong police.
But Police Minister Ginny Andersen, who has previously laid out her expectation that police actions reflect the Government's concern about the erosion of rights in Hong Kong, said it's important New Zealand Police can share practices to help other jurisdictions.
It follows revelations in April that a group of ten HKPF staff travelled to New Zealand for four days in February, during which the Hong Kong cops delivered a presentation on responding to domestic civil unrest.
That sparked some concern given the allegations levelled at the HKPF for using brutal tactics - in some cases allegedly akin to torture - against pro-democracy protesters.
Correspondence now released to Newshub shows that during the planning of that visit, a representative from the HKPF proposed another training exchange programme for around 10 to 15 officers sometime between April 2023 and March 204.
The November 2022 email was sent to Hamish McCardle, a police liaison officer based in Hong Kong.
"This study theme could cover wide aspect of policing issues like digital policing, recruitment, community policing etc. To enhance the partnership between HKPC and New Zealand Police, reciprocal study visits are welcomed," the HKPF representative said.
"We are eager to reinforce the partnership with New Zealand Police and explore more training/exchange opportunities with you."
A week later they told McCardle that "our command courses are open for our New Zealand counterparts".
New Zealand Police have confirmed to Newshub that while specific dates for future visits by the HKPF are still to be confirmed, they are being planned for between February and March next year for between eight and 12 HKPF staff to travel to Auckland and Wellington.
"Topics to be discussed when HKPF visits New Zealand include: anti-narcotics, youth programmes and initiatives, Youth Education Services (YES), community policing practice, drug awareness and drug rehabilitation programmes for youth, police recruiting and diversity programmes, and staff wellness."
Police said community policing practice referred to how officers "engage with our community to identify and resolve local policing issues and working with the community and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes for that community".
It's also intended, though not confirmed, that two New Zealand Police staff members will visit Hong Kong sometime between September and December this year.
"Indicative topics for the visits of NZ Police to Hong Kong are looking at Asian organised crime, triad crime, drug smuggling, and financial crime - specifically scam crimes and money laundering."
When the February visit by HKPF staff emerged earlier this year, Andersen told Newshub she expected police to conduct themselves "in a manner that reflects New Zealand's position on foreign affairs" and that police put the principle of policing by consent front and centre.
Asked about the planned visits, Andersen said on Tuesday: "The public sets a high bar of what’s expected of New Zealand Police, which is why policing with the consent of the community is so important in New Zealand."
"It’s important that New Zealand Police can share their experiences and practises to help other jurisdictions police in this way."
A police spokesperson said while international engagement for next year was still being planned, it was being "considered in the context of New Zealand’s foreign policy positions and relationship settings".
New Zealand has repeatedly condemned the anti-democratic crackdown in Hong Kong and suspended our extradition treaty in light of a national security law that allows for extradition to mainland China.
But Keith Ng, a former journalist and Hong Konger who covered the 2019 protests, doesn't believe New Zealand Police should engage with HKPF.
He said it would be concerning if the Kiwi officers were to receive any guidance from HKPF on community policing practices.
"The Hong Kong police have fallen from grace in a way that I can't think of any other examples in the world. Ten, 20 years ago, they were a really well-trusted police force in the same way that the New Zealand Police does have a lot of trust by communities," Ng said.
"But after the Hong Kong protest, they have become deeply, deeply resent and untrusted. People do not trust them."
There were clashes between police and protesters during the 2019 and 2020 protests, with allegations made that the HKPF deployed "reckless and indiscriminate tactics, including while arresting people at protests". An Amnesty International report alleged examples of torture and ill-treatment in detention.
One incident that stands out for Ng was the Yuen Long attack in 2019 when a mob of armed triad members attacked civilians and protesters. Police were accused of taking too long to respond and colluding with the gang members, something it's denied.
Ng said the HKPF carry out "political repression" in Hong Kong and the Yuen Long incident showed the "culture that you breed when a police force becomes engaged in being a political tool".
"I think it's the thing that the New Zealand Police should be most alarmed by and the strongest reason for them to stay well away from the Hong Kong Police Force."
A Hong Kong police watchdog released a report in 2020 about police actions during the protests largely dismissed complaints, saying police actions were justified "in reaction to illegal action by protesters and for protection of themselves and others when attacked by violent protesters".
But that report was condemned by some as a whitewash, including the Hong Kong Watch group which said it "shows that there is no viable mechanism in Hong Kong to ensure accountability either for police brutality or police complicity with violence by criminal thugs".
Ng said the type of behaviour demonstrated by the HKPF was "corrosive" on their ability to undertake usual community policing.
He said there was a difference between upholding community values and enforcing political order. He said New Zealand police's actions during the protest at Parliament last year is "very different" to what happened in Hong Kong.
A report from the New Zealand independent police watchdog earlier this year said police showed professionalism and "remarkable restraint" in the face of "violent behaviour" and "extreme provocation" during the protest at Parliament.
