Liu Ching-tat fights crime and speaks out for colleagues

Serving currently at a Task Force Sub-unit of Tin Shui Wai Division, Station Sergeant (SSGT) Liu Ching-tat has been working in the Force for 30 years. His professionalism has earned him a number of commendations as well as deep respect of colleagues.

Outstanding performance

After joining the Force in 1986, SSGT Liu was honoured with a Silver Whistle Award at the passing-out parade and was promoted to the sergeant rank eight years later. During the first 14 years of his police service, he had been posted to the Police Tactical Unit (PTU) for five times and was awarded the "Best All Round Sergeant" twice. With consistently outstanding performance, he came first among 232 candidates in the interviews by the SSGT Promotion Board and was promoted to SSGT in 2000.

SSGT Liu does not slacken his efforts even though his career path is smooth. He said, "There is no room for complacency as there are still a lot of areas for improvement. I need to work harder to earn colleagues' recognition."

SSGT Liu has been deployed to the Emergency Unit and Task Force of districts in New Territories North (NTN) Region for anti-crime operations. He was presented with the Commanding Officer's Commendation (COC) in 2008 and 2013 because of his distinguished performance. He was also appreciated for working with colleagues to ride out difficulties in "Operation SOLARPEAK".

Work for officers' well-being

Apart from combating crime and serving the public, SSGT Liu attaches importance to showing care for colleagues. He always takes the initiative to talk with officers and stand on a united front with them in difficult times. During the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003, he was responsible for visiting officers who had been isolated because of their contact with people suspected to be infected with the disease.

With the support of junior police officers (JPOs), he has taken up the role of Regional Chairman of NTN Junior Police Officers' Association (JPOA) from 2012 and became the Second Vice-Chairman of the Force-wide JPOA this year. Under the leadership of JPOA Chairman Chan Cho-kwong, SSGT Liu and other committee members have reflected JPOs' views to the management and have strived a number of benefits for colleagues. "Through the work of JPOA, I am entrusted with another mission of police work. In addition to apprehending criminals, lobbying for staff benefits is a meaningful task to me," he said.

Double efforts to reap a harvest

SSGT Liu feels much honoured to be a member of the Force and believes that the key to work is "complain less, give more". As he thought that sometimes one's work effort might not meet others' expectations, he advised colleagues to work harder to earn the trust of others and take the idea of "One should double his efforts in planting in an attempt to reap a harvest" as their motto. He also encouraged officers to undertake further studies and communicate with different groups and people to broaden their horizon.

Looking forward, he hopes to achieve a parallel balance on fighting crime and reflecting JPOs' views. His work priorities fully embody the notion of "complain less, give more".