Force Rope Access Cadre celebrates tenth anniversary

Officers in various formations embrace challenges in the course of performing daily tasks. Apart from conducting regular work, many officers devote their spare time to take up volunteer secondary duties to serve the public, develop their potential and further demonstrate the professional competence of the Force. Currently, over 1 200 officers serve in 12 Volunteer Secondary Duty Cadres.

OffBeat introduced the Volunteer Secondary Duty Cadre Series and would invite all the cadres to share their stories with readers. In this issue, Officer-in-Charge of the Force Rope Access Cadre (FRAC) Superintendent Wong Wai-shun, together with four of their members, Senior Inspector Wong Siu-cheung, Sergeant (SGT) Wong Wing-kuen, SGT Fung Ka-yu and Police Constable Cheung Ka-ho, explained their tasks and dedication with us.

Initially formed as the Police Tactical Unit Physical Training Instructors Team after taking into consideration overseas protests at height, they had been providing supporting services to the Force since 1995. During the Garley Building fire in 1996, the team assisted criminal investigation officers in gathering evidence in its lift shafts. The FRAC was formally set up in 2005 in connection with the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, and officially became a Volunteer Secondary Duty Cadre one year later. Today, the FRAC consists of 36 members who are grouped under one Headquarters Team and four Operational Teams, and the latter performs reserve duties by rotation. The cadre's logo depicts some climbing tools putting together in the form of a gecko, illustrating members working flexibly at height or unusual positions.

The FRAC's major duties are: supporting frontline officers in carrying out duties, including risk assessment of protests at height in large-scale operations, performing reserve duties at strategic positions, and putting in place a safety system for related officers if necessary; and assisting in training officers to consolidate their security awareness relating to operational work at height with their unique equipment, skills and experience.

CE commends Queen's Pier operation

When asked about their most memorable experience, veteran members Wong Wing-kuen and Fung Ka-yu recalled the handling of protestors at Queen's Pier in 2007. Mr Wong said, "That was our first operation - it was a large-scale operation. The FRAC was just established and the technological level was comparatively elementary. Our primary objective is 'safety comes first'. On that day, after checking the structural loading of Queen's Pier, we wore protective gear as planned and instantly put in place a security system to ensure the safety of officers and protestors on the rooftop of the pier."

Mr Fung followed up and said, "Not only did we work with negotiators to appease the protestors and let them express their views, but also explained to them our identity and work task so as to bring them to safe ground." Eventually the FRAC brought all the protestors back to the ground within ten hours. Their outstanding performance earned them letters of commendation from the Chief Executive (CE).

Attitude drives altitude

The FRAC's motto "Attitude drives altitude" can best describe the admission criteria of the FRAC as members' physical, technical and psychological qualities are all crucial. The selection process takes about two weeks. All candidates have to join a one-day selection exercise, during which they have to attend on-the-spot coaching and a quiz, and then climb up the stairs to the rooftop of a 38-storey building and answer questions at the roof edge to test their learning and application capabilities as well as their physical fitness and work performance under pressure. Those who met the standard would undergo a two-week training and pass two practical tests and two written tests. Then they would be considered to be appointed to the cadre. Thereafter, all members have to attend regular refresher training, which covers a basic technical review, low-light environment work, prolonged independent tasks and other special topics.

Cheung Ka-ho said, "Although I spent four years to go through the selection process for three times before I was admitted to the cadre, this is a worthwhile exercise. Because of the unique nature of the job, the members have to communicate with each other thoroughly and build up mutual trust in order to make quick and accurate decisions when working at height or hazardous spots. Every training session helped me to strengthen my determination and focus."

Wong Siu-cheung echoed, "I joined the cadre so as to challenge myself. I gradually found that the cadre equips me with the necessary knowledge and skills as well as broadens my horizon and social circle. During the two-day training once every seven weeks, I work with officers from different units to cultivate mutual trust and teamwork. After several members received further training in Australia in the past few years, I was given a chance to receive vocational training in Britain last year and attend an exchange session at the Tokyo Fire Department in Japan early this year. I learned a lot in these visits."

In line with the Force Volunteer Secondary Duty Cadre's management strategy, the FRAC invites officers to join the cadre from March to April every year. Interested officers may keep an eye on their announcement on the Force NoticeBoard.

Review the past and look ahead

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the FRAC. Wong Wai-shun said, "The FRAC was developed from a group of officers with a vision to assist the Force in conducting operational work at height to become one of the Volunteer Secondary Duty Cadres. The cadre will continue to undergo systematic and sustainable development. I am grateful to the Force for its support to the FRAC, and I am impressed with the cadre members' enthusiasm, dedication and perseverance in performing Police tasks at height." Looking forward, all five representatives hope that members would keep on upgrading themselves, learning more about roping skills and equipment as well as the management of the cadre with a view to passing on their experience to fellow officers to face up to future challenges.