Nearly every Beijinger is going international with the forthcoming Olympics -- even the former stony-faced police are learning to greet foreigners with a friendly "hello" and a broad smile.
Amid the citywide pre-Olympic English-language-learning craze, nearly every police, from new graduates to seniors close to retirement, is studying foreign languages and refined manners, hoping to polish the capital's image.
A handbook containing useful phrases in seven languages -- including English, French, Russian, German, Japanese, Korean and Arabic -- has been given to all police and state-approved volunteers who will assist security service forces at next year's Games.
Ma Zhenchuan, the city's police chief, said the educational campaigns would help the force offer "cordial, civilized, professional and high-quality" security at the August sporting extravaganza.
Fluency in 13 languages significantly helped Liu Wenli, a policeman at Beihai Park, a major tourist destination close to the Forbidden City in downtown Beijing, to stand out as a relay runner for the Athens Olympics torch delivery in 2004.
The 40-year-old was also one of the most hopeful candidates for the Beijing Games torch relay.
Liu said an embarrassing experience in 1995 initially prompted him to learn English.
"I was assisting security services at the fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and a blonde-haired lady came up to talk with me in English," he said. "I knew she was asking for a favor, but I couldn't understand a word."
From then on, he began to study English. He read novels, listened to English radio programs and struck up conversations with every foreigner he met on the streets.
Shortly after he began to work in Beihai Park in 2002, he realized English alone was not enough. "Sometimes I met French, Spanish or Russian tourists who needed help but couldn't speak English."
Since then, Liu, who never went to college, has learned 12 other foreign languages, including French, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Finnish. "Speaking their language will make the foreign guests feel at home in China."
Police officer Ban Hao was another eager to learn. To do so, he has written down many phrases in his notebook to simulate conversation with foreigners. "A policeman should always be ready to help -- a tourist might need your help to find out the nearest marketplace, for example."
Serving the people
In his younger days, Li Shaolin was a typical stony-faced policeman who never smiled. "My wife said it was an industrial disease and the children dared not even talk in my presence."
Now retired, he was the stereotype image of police 30 years back. Today, however, officers were encouraged to smile, be polite and show trust and respect.
Earlier this year, Beijing police conducted a month-long survey to find out what the public found most unbearable about police.
Among their feedback were such phrases as "Are you deaf? Haven't you heard me?" "That's not my business. Go and talk to whoever you want" and "I'll put you behind bars if you continue to make a fuss like this".
The public also voiced their discontent over some officers' arrogance and their misuse of police vehicles and sirens.
Based on the survey, the Beijing Public Security Bureau compiled a book of dos and don'ts for police. Those caught swearing, smoking, chatting or using violence at work would be suspended from their post or fired.
In an effort to boost Beijing security service up to international standards, Beijing police authorities have sent more than 400 elite officers for training abroad since 2003. Some were learning the experience of Olympic security in former host cities Athens, Turin and Sydney, while others were receiving language training and investigative skills in Britain, Australia, Germany, Japan and Russia.
"Beijing is re-engineering its security force in order to provide better services for the people," said police chief Ma. "It won't end with the closing of the Olympics. We hope to see the long-term effect."
(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2007)