Throughout the history of the Hong Kong Island Police Force, there had been no shortage of operations against transnational crime.
Yet these Joint Hong Kong-Thailand Anti-Drug Operations had carried the greatest weight of them all.
That was not merely because of the operation's ultimate results, but also because of the ranks of the Operations Personnel who had taken part.
A Police Force Senior Assistant Commissioner had personally led the team, with a Police Force Assistant Commissioner as his deputy.
They had also been accompanied by several commissioned-rank Senior Superintendents and Chief Inspectors.
Apart from international affairs delegations from the Hong Kong Island Police Force, no contingent of such stature had ever left Hong Kong Island.
Rewarding merit was one of any department's most basic rules.
These Joint Hong Kong-Thailand Anti-Drug Operations could be called the first time the Hong Kong Island Police Force had taken the lead in a case overseas.
In previous transnational operations, the Hong Kong Island Police Force had sent smaller contingents than this one, and had essentially worked in support of the country where the case took place.
Whatever communication had passed between Zhou Quan and Phongsaphat, actual control of this operation had ultimately rested with the Hong Kong Island Police Force.
The operation's complete success was one thing; enhancing the Hong Kong Island Police Force's prestige was another.
Commendations and promotions for all the Operations Personnel involved were therefore a natural outcome.
However, senior positions within the Police Force were limited.
Even with Zhou Quan's current standing and authority in the Police Force, he could not directly promote all the men who had taken part.
After all, one more step would make He Wenzhan, Chan Wing Yan, and Lau Bo-keung Senior Superintendents, bringing them into the management of the entire Police Force.
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