Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee said officers belonged to a profession that had the closest contact with the public and faced myriads of challenges for their work. The general public had respect for officers for their dedicated efforts to safeguard life and property and maintain law and order.

 

He encouraged the graduates to serve the community wholeheartedly, uphold the rule of law and carry out their duties with zeal so as to derive a sense of satisfaction and achievement from work.

 

Mr Lee associated this with the values of volunteerism. He said volunteerism sprang from universal love, and volunteers would respect human dignity and serve others and society out of compassion and free will. It could be a way of self-cultivation and volunteers could bring happiness to themselves as well as others through selfless voluntary services.

 

He noted that quite a number of serving and retired officers had rendered support to different organisations through the voluntary services organised by the AVS. Since the launch of the Hong Kong Volunteer Award in 2005, three Police officers have been presented with the Hong Kong Volunteer Award (Individual) while the Hong Kong Police Volunteer Services Corps has been presented with the Hong Kong Volunteer Award (Voluntary Group) for its outstanding services.

 

He pointed out that three off-duty Police officers received the Heroic Volunteer Award in 2010 for rescuing four persons in dire peril when participating in voluntary service in sailing training.

 

He hoped the graduates, no matter as a police officer or a volunteer, would treat others with love and sincerity and bear in mind volunteerism and its values when upholding the rule of law.