Over 10 years ago, a group of police constables formed a study group for promotion exams and interviews. Having different talents, they formed a volunteer team to serve the community, called "Pilot Volunteer Group " (PVG), and registered as an organisation on April 1, 2004. Since then, the PVG has been doing its utmost to help the less privileged, including elders, youngsters and people from the more vulnerable sectors.
Three PVG members - Sergeant (SGT) Tong Yiu-chung from Platoon 3 Emergency Unit Kowloon West, SGT Tsang Chiu-kong from Task Force Sub-unit Mong Kok District, and SGT Hung Hing-ping from Patrol Sub-unit 4 Sham Shui Po Division - have talked to OffBeat about their volunteer services, feelings and observations.
Lending a hand - source of happiness
"Every time when I saw the smiles of the person I had helped I felt happy," said SGT Hung. It was this strong sense of bliss that had motivated the three officers to join voluntary service in their spare time. While lending a helping hand, they recognised that they had to cherish what they have possessed.
SGT Tong pointed out that in helping organise a sports meet for the disabled, PVG members, apart from helping out with venue preparation and crowd management, also played the role of a lead runner to help the disabled runners complete their events. He said, "Something that was a piece of cake for us was a problem for the disabled, but they did their utmost and their spirit of perseverance was very impressive. This made me recognise that good health and good physique should not be taken for granted."
SGT Tsang enjoys taking part in volunteer service with his wife and children, especially on festivals. They visited the elderly and offered their care and best wishes. In meeting the elders living in solitude, his children felt grateful for having a happy family.
Contributions to society
Volunteer service organisations welcome police officers for the training they have received and their sense of discipline. All the three PVG members recognise that they have to make optimal use of their expertise and skills to serve the community. SGT Tong said each year PVG members help a major organisation arrange buses to take elders to attend a gathering. They paid particular attention to weather and the conditions of road and traffic, and drew up contingency plans for emergencies, for example liaison with hospitals in the event of an accident.
SGT Hung pointed out that after robberies had occurred in country parks, PVG members formed a hiking group and distributed to hikers fliers on hiking safety, prevention of robbery, and the steps to take after being waylaid. This kind of service not only helped tackle country park robbery but also enabled the PVG members to pursue a sport in support of the promotion of a healthy lifestyle within the Force.
Help for others and self-help
In the views of the three PVG members, both the two parties in volunteer service - volunteer worker and beneficiary - would stand to benefit. "I count my blessings while helping other people," SGT Hung noted.
SGT Tong said that through volunteer service he came into contact with people of different ages and from different social strata. Apart from enlarging his social circle, he also honed his communication skills and mastered the skills of empathy. In helping with planning of activities, he also boosted his organisational skills.
SGT Tsang pointed out that voluntary service allowed him to put down busy police work and serve society as a volunteer together with his family. This not only allowed his family to spend more time together, but also strengthened family relations. "Volunteer service is a good activity that will reinforce the bond between a parent and a child. It will also teach the child to care for other people, and this will have a positive impact on the child's personal development," he said.
All the three officers called on Force members to perpetuate the Force's culture of love and care and project the image of the Force in good light by taking part in voluntary service.
