Senior Colonel Chen was a staff officer at the Central Barracks headquarters.
Although his title did not include "chief," he was unquestionably the third most powerful figure there.
That was because, for the past three command administrations, the top commander had also held the post of chief of staff in the sister military unit.
Under the system before Hong Kong Island's return, a Deputy Commissioner of the Hong Kong Island Police Force had been fully equivalent to a brigadier in the foreign garrison.
An officer of that rank was also the second or third most powerful figure in the foreign garrison.
Hong Kong Island had now been back under Chinese sovereignty for years, so official ranks naturally could no longer be measured by the old traditions.
However, because of Hong Kong Island's special circumstances, there was no precise standard for matching ranks between the Hong Kong Island Police Force and the military and police departments back home.
Thus, the former foreign military and police system still served as an important point of reference.
Whatever else might be said, a brigadier could still be called a general, so Staff Officer Chan showed Sir Kwan, the Police Force's second-in-command, every respect.
After all, his own rank of senior colonel still belonged to the field-officer ranks.
For his part, Sir Kwan likewise understood the weight of two bars and four stars within his law enforcement agency's elder brother institution.
Moreover, the other man was the third most powerful figure in the sister military unit.
Zhou Quan therefore acted exactly as Staff Officer Chan did, showing him considerable respect in return.
The Police Force and the sister military unit were separated by only a narrow stretch of water, but they ultimately represented different things.
Whichever side saluted first, it would be somewhat inappropriate.
The