Deputy Commissioner (DCP) (Management) Chiu Wai-yin looked back on her 36-year-long police service at a pre-retirement gathering with the media on March 1. She said that she was grateful to have grown up with the Force, adding that her police career was dynamic and that she had no regrets.

Grateful for dynamic work experience

Ms Chiu joined the Force in 1983 and had served in a wide spectrum of posts encompassing criminal intelligence, drug investigation, international liaison, personnel, training, divisional, district and regional command as well as operations and management policy and support services at headquarters level. She was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 2011 and Senior Assistant Commissioner in 2014. In July 2017, she was appointed DCP (Management).

Ms Chiu said that she joined the Force at the age of 20. The diversity of police work provided her with many learning and development opportunities. During her tenure as Deputy Commander of the TANGO Company of the Police Tactical Unit, she assisted in the repatriation of Vietnamese refugees. At the rank of Superintendent in 1997, she became a core member of the Implementation Team for the Security Arrangements of the Handover Ceremony and was responsible for media liaison and related security matters. She said that the unprecedented operation had broadened her horizons and was a memorable experience. "At that time, I was anxious because there were many unknowns. I had to liaise with different stakeholders. The details and arrangements of the operation could not be finalised until a later stage. Although we faced considerable difficulties, the operation was eventually a success with the efforts of all parties," Ms Chiu said.

Appreciate officers' passion for serving the community

She said that the relationship between the Police and the community is closely related to the social environment. With the improvement of the social environment and the reduction of conflicts in recent years, the Force could focus its efforts in combating crime, maintaining law and order and helping the public resolve issues. Thus, the police-community relations have improved. The Police Service Satisfaction Survey and the Public Opinion Survey in 2018 showed that the public was satisfied with police performance and had high confidence in the Force. This was an encouragement to officers.

On the other hand, Ms Chiu said that in recent years the Force has been exploring ways to reach out to people of different ages and backgrounds and to explain police work to them. In addition to the implementation of the Junior Police Call and Senior Police Call schemes, the Force uses social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Weibo and Twitter to enhance communication with the public and further strengthen the relationship between the Police and the community.

Moreover, Ms Chiu expressed appreciation for officers' work passion in serving the Force and the community. She was pleased that many officers have devoted their spare time and efforts to taking up volunteer secondary duties on top of their regular work. She encouraged officers to stay motivated and to strive for excellence when performing duties. She said that officers can help people in need, even little things, to make the public feel at ease. She was very honoured to have worked with many outstanding colleagues.