HONG KONG: Two police officers who uploaded to the social website "Facebook" photos that were obviously taken by them while on patrol duties are being investigated by police and may face disciplinary action.

Asked to comment on the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police Peter Yam Tat-wing confirmed the policeman and policewoman were on bicycle patrol duty when they took the photos.

He said the police are not taking the matter lightly.

"Members of the disciplined services are expected to meet a high standard in terms of discipline," he said.

"If there's any violation of rules as listed in the internal disciplinary manuals, they'll be seriously dealt with."

But the officers have not been suspended. The penalties will be meted out according to the internal guideline, Yam said.

The photos of the two unidentified police officers were carried by local Chinese newspapers yesterday. In the photos, the two are in uniform and there are police bicycles in the background.

Apple Daily identified the backdrop of some photos - a picturesque waterfront village - as Sam Mun Tsai, Tai Po.

It said a reader complained to the newspaper after seeing the photos on Facebook.

Though the police haven't specifically spelled out that the taking of personal photos is prohibited on the job, Yam said yesterday officers are expected to carry out activities related to the job.

(HK Edition 11/13/2009 page1)