At a presentation ceremony on October 9, the Police Volunteer Services Corps (PVSC) was honoured as one of the most outstanding volunteer groups in "The Fifth Hong Kong Volunteer Award". Together with other winners, two PVSC representatives, Senior Superintendent (SSP) Chan Joon-sun and Station Sergeant Hung Yee-ha, received the award from the Honorary Patron, Mrs Regina Leung, wife of the Chief Executive, HKSAR.
Co-organised by Agency for Volunteer Service, RTHK and RoadShow, "The Hong Kong Volunteer Award"scheme is a territory-wide campaign which aims at recognising volunteers' contribution and achievements and to show exemplary examples of volunteerism to society. The PVSC was nominated by Oxfarm and selected as one of the "Volunteer Groups" award winners by a judging panel.
The PVSC was established in 2004 and its Secretariat was formed in 2005. So far, various police formations and units have formed a total of 41 police volunteer teams. The service targets of the teams range from the elderly, youth, the underprivileged to the needy.
PVSC teams have forged long-team partnership with a number of Non-government Organisations and charities, working together in addressing community needs. In 2012, PVSC contributed a total of 126,276 service hours.
SSP Chan, who is Vice-convener of the PVSC, sees the award as an honour for PVCS members. He thanks all partnership organisations for their support, adding that the award is a remarkable achievement reflecting the selfless devotion of every member of the 41 police volunteer teams, to whom he also expresses his sincere thanks.
Volunteers' sharing
OffBeat has talked to three Corps members about their experiences and observations of providing volunteer services.
The three officers are Training and Staff Relations Officer from Tsuen Wan District, Chief Inspector (CIP) Chung Ling-wing, who has clinched the 3rd Hong Kong Volunteer Award (for individuals); Station Sergeant (SSGT) Lam Hok-chim from the Patrol Sub-unit 3 of Tsuen Wan District, winner of the 2nd Hong Kong Volunteer Award (for individuals); and Police Constable (PC) Chan Yiu-wa from Lantau South Division.
Motivation for volunteer service
SSGT Lam, who first offered volunteer services in 1998, told OffBeat that his motivation was "visible happiness". He often serves the mentally handicapped or physically handicapped persons. They can hardly enjoy outdoor activities, but are keen to have a go. Once when he led them in a sailing activity, a physically handicapped person wished not only to take the lead in jumping into the sea, but also repeat the act. Their enthusiasm in making attempts deeply moved SSGT Lam.
CIP Chung started working for the Hopeful School Project of the Agency for Volunteer Service in 2002. He led a party of 30 members of the Blue Sky Voluntary Services Team and volunteers from the EU NTN Volunteer Team to the areas, where they organised various activities to bring happiness and knowledge to school children. Moved by the children's broad smiles and the active participation of school principals and teachers, CIP Chung derived a lot of satisfaction and started committing himself to volunteer service.
Before joining the Force, PC Chan had served as a volunteer for a long time. He recalled that he received training in a variety of skills when he joined a centre for youth. "Perhaps, the Force accepted me because of the skills. I am now capable of paying back to society."
Services to society and self-enhancement
Many organisations welcome police volunteers for their discipline, police training, agility and cool heads. For example, in the recently concluded Trailwalkers event, over 200 police volunteers helped out at the Checkpoint 7 at the Lead Mine Pass, providing food, drinks and medication for the exhausted participants reaching the checkpoints. They also ascertained if there were any participants in the vicinity of Shing Mun Reservoir requiring medical care. Their ability to coordinate with third parties, first aids knowledge and mountain-claiming skills were put to good use.
CIP Chung pointed out that police volunteers were able to make contributions in different volunteer services, thanks to their versatilities. For example, New Territories South's "Project Sparkle" teamed up with the Christian Zheng Sheng College in organising an archery event for students with the aim to enhance their self-confidence. The Archery Club helped a lot in this event.
PC Chan pointed out that many activities for young persons call for good physical fitness, such as rock-climbing and trailing. For these activities, members of the PINNACLE Police Volunteer or the Police Adventure Club offered a big help. According to SSGT Lam, officers good at handicraft, magic, balloon twisting art were popular with children, elders or mentally handicapped persons.
Besides their own skills, police volunteers have to upgrade their abilities for offering more services. For example, some police volunteers, after paying home visits to elders, realised that the elders required haircut. So they dipped into their own pockets for hiring a haircut instructor and buying the necessary accessories, all for the goal of offering haircut service.
Lighting up life
For the three officers, offering volunteer services also brings benefits to themselves and their families, besides "lighting up life".
CIP Chung pointed out that many organisations or individuals had their misconceptions of the police dispelled after coming into contact with police volunteers. Police volunteer teams not only projected the Force's image in good light, but also provided a platform for officers from different units to strengthen communication and understanding. Sharing these views, SSGT Lam and PC Chan said officers worked closely together in providing volunteer services irrespective of their ranks.
CIP Chung sees volunteer service as a relief to the stress of police work. SSGT Lam brings his family members along when he takes part in volunteer service, allowing the family to spend more time together and promote family harmony at the same time.
PC Chan said: "Encouraging young people to take part in volunteer service would enable them to come into contact with different walks of life and matters. This would be helpful to their personal developments."
Caring culture within the Force
Promoting a caring culture within the Force requires a collective effort, including the selfless contributions of over 4,000 police volunteers. Appealing to Force members to join volunteer service, SSGT Lam said: "Come and have a try. You may get a different experience."
CIP Chung realises that some Force members have to work shifts, but suggests they may enrol for those services they are interested in. "Don't take volunteer service as a duty," he advised. "If one takes volunteer service as a stress, helping others would become meaningless," said PC Chan.
