Beijing has named Joe Chow as the new Commissioner of Police, replacing Raymond Siu.

Chow was appointed by the State Council following a nomination and suggestion put forward by Chief Executive John Lee, according to Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday.

He takes over the reins of the force on Wednesday.

The new police chief joined the force in 1995 as an inspector and spent most of his career in criminal investigation and intelligence gathering.

He was assigned temporarily to Interpol in France between 2012 and 2013 as a criminal intelligence officer.

Chow, who had been a deputy regional commander of Kowloon West at one stage, was known for leading a police operation at the Polytechnic University during the 2019 protests.

He further rose through the ranks with a series of promotions since 2020 and assumed the number-two position in the force by 2023.

As deputy police chief, his public appearances included hosting press conferences relating to test runs for the Kai Tak Sports Park.

In a statement, Chief Executive John Lee pointed to Chow's "extensive experience" in a number of areas.

"He has a distinguished performance and possesses proven leadership skills. I am confident that he will capably lead the police force in meeting the challenges ahead," he said.

Siu ends his decades-long career with the force by taking his leave on Wednesday. He first took charge of the force in 2021 and had his tenure extended by two years when he reached the retirement age in 2023.

In Lee's statement, the chief executive expressed heartfelt appreciation, saying: "Since taking up the appointment as Commissioner of Police in June 2021, Mr Siu has made commendable efforts in maintaining Hong Kong as one of the safest cities in the world.

"He has demonstrated unswerving dedication and determination to safeguarding Hong Kong and upholding the rule of law in dealing with the social unrest... Under his eminent leadership, the police force has continued to excel as a world-class professional law enforcement agency."
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Last updated: 2025-04-02 HKT 11:54