Twenty members of Probationary Inspectors (PI) Courses 166-168 gathered in Hong Kong on January 9 to commemorate the start of their careers as inspectors in the Hong Kong police, and to celebrate their friendship and remarkable camaraderie.

This was the first time that some had returned to Hong Kong for decades. For the spouses and children who accompanied them, this visit was a window into the world of their husbands and fathers that had previously been a mystery. Apart from those who remain in Hong Kong, others made the trip from Australia, Canada, the Mainland, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

An interesting and varied programme was arranged to enable a trip down memory lane for the former inspectors, whilst introducing first-time visitors to some of Hong Kong's other treasures.

They started off the first day with a visit to an excellent restoration project at Tai Kwun on Hollywood Road, followed by a timeless curry lunch at the Senior Officers' Mess in Police Headquarters, and an exciting night at the Happy Valley Racecourse.

They kicked off the second day with a nostalgic trip to the Police College, which was known as the Police Training School (PTS). They were most fortunate to arrive during the rehearsal for the "Hong Kong Police Force 175th Anniversary Open Days", enabling them to see how the Force has developed over the intervening years. The male officers could only reminisce during the campus tour when they returned to "J" Block, their first home at PTS.

On the third day, they embarked on a tour of the New Territories, starting at Yuen Long Police Station where they were warmly welcomed by officers and police dogs. They called on the former Lau Fau Shan station, which was the first police station many of them had ever visited as it was included in their PTS familiarisation. They had the privilege of visiting Lok Ma Chau and Ta Kwu Ling stations and a MacIntosh Fort. In the 1980's these were within the Frontier Closed Area and thus out of bounds for most officers.

On the fourth day, they attended a celebratory reunion dinner, which was filled with fun, laughter, demonstrations of a mixed range of talents and many tall tales.

Whilst many of them had moved on to other careers and countries following their early days in the Hong Kong police, it was clear that their time at PTS, in particular, had instilled in them an inextinguishable sense of camaraderie and belonging. They would like to express their deep thanks to every police formation and individual that they dealt with during their reunion programme. All treated them with courtesy and consideration. They hope to see these Force members again for the next reunion.