As Wong Bing Yiu raised his hand slightly and pressed it down, the enthusiastic applause in the Police Force auditorium gradually subsided.
"Now, we move on to the second item on the agenda."
His smile slowly faded. With a touch of sadness, Wong Bing Yiu let out a long sigh and said, "The barracks remain, but the soldiers come and go."
"Every year, the Police Force recruits a great deal of fresh blood, but it also bids farewell to many veterans who have served for years."
"Last week, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sir Tsang, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Sir Zhan of the Finance Division, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Sir Cao of the Personnel Division, Madam ACP Ko of the Support Department, and others applied to me for early honourable retirement."
"At yesterday's meeting of the Hong Kong Government decision-making level, these colleagues' applications were approved."
"On this joyous day when our Police Force enters a brand-new information technology era, let us bid our colleagues farewell as they retire with honour!"
The moment Commissioner Wong finished speaking, a buzz of discussion rose from the seats below.
Although these officers were all members of the Police Force Management, not everyone had advance knowledge of personnel changes within the Police Force core management.
The collective honourable retirement of nearly a third of the Police Force core management came as quite a surprise to them.
However, when all the retiring officers, led by Tsang Yuk-ming, rose together, the murmuring instantly died away.
"All personnel, salute!"
Tsang Yuk-ming, who had risen to Police Force Management Deputy Commissioner, issued his final command before formally retiring with honour.
In the final act of his tenure, Tsang Yuk-ming did not use the foreigners' drill commands. Instead, he ended his more than thirty-three years of service in