Yu Kang-por is a 59-year-old retired Sergeant who has served in the Force for over four decades. After completing the Post-Retirement Service Contract, Por continues to serve the Force in a new capacity as a hairdresser from November 2023 onward. He is now the “Police Station Hairdresser” at the Tsuen Wan Police Station Barber Shop to provide hairdressing services to police officers and their family members.

Por has been interested in hairdressing since his childhood. He often observed hairdressers working in their salons, so he mastered some basic skills. However, he did not choose to become a hairdressing apprentice. Instead, he joined the then Hong Kong Police Cadet School after finishing Form 3. During his 30-year service as a firearms instructor at Police College before his retirement, Por taught recruit police constables (RPCs) shooting skills. Por revealed, his hairdressing skills were polished while he taught. It happened that RPCs were required to have short hair during their training, so Por volunteered to cut hair for them when he was off duty. Practice makes perfect. Por gradually upgraded his hairdressing skills.

Upon recommendation of a colleague in 2011, Por started giving free haircuts to the elderly in a nursing home. Although it was volunteer work, Por needed to undergo assessment. Faced with 15 elderly people, including some with special health conditions who needed to get their hair cut while lying down, Por successfully passed the test. He always bears in mind the message from the head of the nursing home: “The elderly may not be able to tell whether a haircut is good or not, but they can tell whether you cut it for them wholeheartedly or otherwise.” Since then, Por and other volunteers have been extending their free haircut service to other underprivileged groups. Under guidance of senior hairstylists in the volunteer team, Por’s hairdressing skills have become more comprehensive, laying a solid foundation for him to become a “Police Station Hairdresser” after his retirement.

Many souvenirs of the Force and retirement gifts are displayed in Por’s barber shop at the police station. Among them, the two discontinued antique razors given by his friends are Por’s favourite. Por jokes that he is one of the rare hairdressers with police experience in Hong Kong. Whether they want to cut hair or chat about their policing work, all police officers are welcome.