For promoting sports and healthy lifestyles, the Hong Kong Police Sports Council (HKPSC) joined the "Active School" Programme last year with the Police Basketball Club and Police Karate-do Club tailor-making training programmes on basketball and karate-do skills for the physical education classes of five primary schools.

Organised by the Hong Kong Elite Athletes Association, the "Active School" Programme aims at injecting positive energy into schools with sports activities. Over 60 schools are participating in the programme.

The HKPSC has been one of the supporting organisations for the programme since July last year. From last October to February this year, the Police Basketball Club and Police Karate-do Club provided training for the HKFEW Wong Cho Bau School, Ma On Shan Ling Liang Primary School, Cumberland Presbyterian Church Yao Dao Primary School, Yaumati Kaifong Association School and PLK Wong Wing Shu Primary School.

Instructors from both clubs designed training in basketball skills, matches, karate-do basic stances, blocks and punches for club members to provide coaching after office hours on a voluntary basis. The Chairman of the Police Basketball Club, Chief Superintendent Lam Chun-ming, and Chairman of the Police Karate-do Club, Superintendent Young Chi-man, supervised the training sessions.

An instructor, Sergeant Pak Wong-kin, commented: "I hope the children would improve their physique, confidence and physical and mental prowess with karate-do. This sport can also help them become more disciplined and discover their potential."

Another instructor, Sergeant Lee King-lun added: "I have a chance not only to promote basketball, but also consolidate my coaching skills. I hope my passion for basketball would inspire the students to develop an interest in sports and pursue a healthy lifestyle."

Ms Sylvia Chan, the Principal of Ma On Shan Ling Liang Primary School participating in the karate-do training programme, thanked the police instructors for their contributions and efforts. Students Liao Ka-yi and Man Chun-chit of Class 5C of the school also indicated that they had learned a lot of karate-do skills through the training. "The police instructors taught us the skills patiently and gave demonstrations whenever we encountered difficulties during training. We learned how to overcome hardship in face of difficulties."

The HKPSC will liaise with more police sports clubs for supporting the "Active School" Programme so as to promote sports and healthy lifestyles to more schools.