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After a five-year hiatus, the Police Dragon Boat Club (PDBC) Charity Race made its triumphant return at the Ma Liu Shui Marine Police Base on October 14. This year’s race achieved several “firsts” – being the first to be held at the new venue, the first to have the newly added Disciplinary Units Elite Open Race (2km) and the Community Shield - Digital Policing Cup, as well as breaking the record for the highest amount of funds raised since the inception of the charity race. The 28 races attracted 60 teams from various Force formations, disciplinary units, police-community engagement projects, Junior Police Call, technology enterprises and the police associations.
To enhance synergy for promoting the development of digital policing, the Information Systems Wing and Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau invited seven partnering technology institutions to race for the newly added Community Shield - Digital Policing Cup. Moreover, members of the four projects that promote youth development, namely Operation Breakthrough, Project Hand in Hand, Project Gemstone and Project TORCH, competed for the Community Shield – the Youth Cup. As for the finale, the Police Association Invitational Race, the Thousand Commanders Dragon led by Commissioner Siu Chak-yee achieved the second place by heading the Auxiliary Police Dragon Boat Team narrowly, while the Junior Police Officers’ Association won the champion.
The race ultimately raised almost $850 000, surpassing previous records. After deducting event expenses, the entire amount will be donated to this year’s beneficiary organisations – Hong Kong Spinocerebellar Ataxia Association and Retina Hong Kong. The PDBC Chairman Wong Chung-chun said, “The success of the race relies on the unity and efforts of all participating teams, various police units, volunteers and other collaborating units, fully embodying the spirit of commitment to society.”
The race has been raising funds for the vulnerable in our society since 2004, mainly providing support to local rare disease patients and their families. The accumulated funds raised have exceeded $8 million. With support from these funds, two schools in the Mainland have been built.
