 Twelve member team of police runners who raised $20,000 for the Regeneration Society; and PTU officers pulling a Saxon for a good cause
|
ON the last day of 1998, from noon
until midnight, two teams of police officers participated in a 12-hour charity relay race to
raise funds for the Regeneration Society which provides medical care to members of the
community who have been suffering from serious illnesses for an extensive period of time.
More than 90 teams entered the event which was oficiated by Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung at the HKSDB Sports Institute in Sha Tin. The 10-member team from the Criminal Intelligence Bureau led by Chief Inspector Lam Chun-ming was encouraged throughout the race by an elite 12-member team of police runners led by Superintendent Mak Kwai-shing. By midnight the CIB runners had managed to finish 353 laps of the track (141.2kiliometres); while the elite police runners won the race with 568 laps (227.2kilometres) ¡Ð six laps more than the first runners-up from the Fire Services Department. In all the police teams managed to raise $20,000 for the Regeneration Society. MEANWHILE, three teams of police officers from the NTS Region raised $36,040 for this year's Operation Santa Claus after completing a three day sponsored walk on Lantau Island from 18 to 20 November 1998. Operation Santa Claus is organised by RTHK and the South China Morning Post with this year's proceeds going to the Ing Mei Orphanage for handicapped children in China. The officers, about 20 in total, took leave to take part in the sponsored walk which took three days to complete and followed a figure-8 around Lantau Island, hence the name. |
|
The walk has only been held once before, in 1988, when it was completed by a team from the Kowloon Complaints Against Police Office who raised $20,000 for charity. The walk was resurrected this year by one of the original walkers, Peter Morgan, to mark the walk's 10th Anniversary and also because Lantau is now part of the New Territories South Police Region. The teams taking part were from PTU Alpha Company (who raised $7,720), the Crime New Territories South team (who raised $10,140), and the EUNTS team (who raised $18,180). Headed by Sgt Chong Sai-moon, his team mates were Sgt Leung Chi-man, Sgt Cheung Sai-wah, Sgt Lee Wai kuen, WPC Lau Wai-fun, PC Yeung Chi-yuen, PC Au Kwok shing and PC Mak Chi-chung. IN ADDITION, on December 11, PTU members held their annual Operation Santa Claus fundraiser at PTU HQs in Fanling. As in previous years the event was a mix of hard physical exercise and fun games with the ultimate aim of raising money for children's charities in Hong Kong and the mainland. This year's participating teams comprised PTU HQ, Echo Company and Foxtrot Company and as usual the competition was fiercely contested in the caterpillar and sedan chair races, the Saxon pull, as well as in the new events like Emergency Turnout, Santa Says and Tactical Approach to Lorry. PTU staff showed their physical and mental prowess by creeping into the lead and emerging as the worthy winners. The most surprising result was the victory of the junior company Foxtrot (only a few days into their training), over their senior counterparts Echo, who despite their stern efforts were relegated to the wooden spoon. By the end of a good natured and fun afternoon the most important thing on everybody's mind was how much had been raised for charity-which was revealed when CPTU Theodore Ng presented a cheque for $49,780 to Phil Whelen of RTHK(Operation Santa Claus joint organiser). NOT TO BE OUTDONE, 73 police officers from NTN Region attended a Christmas lunch held at the Region's Police Officers' Mess on 22 December with NTN CSP (Admin) AK Mcloughlin as the MC. They donated a total of $5,800 and contributed it to Operation Santa Claus under the name of NT Regional Police Officers' Mess. ALSO IN KEEPING WITH THE SEASON, officers of Hong Kong Island Region dug deep to once again raise donations for a worthwhile charitable organisation called Treats during a evening of carolling on 18 December in their Officers Mess. Founded in 1979, Treats is a registered charitable trust whose objective is to give Hong Kong's disabled children and those brought up in poor conditions a "treat" they would not otherwise have. Treats integrates children and youth with and without disabilities through recreation and play. Mavis Barrett of Treats will be presented with a cheque for $17,000 which was raised during the evening. | |
|
THE 1998 Nine Dragons Race, which took
place on 11 December at Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung, saw records broken left and right as the 443
participants and 297 competitors enjoyed perfect weather for the 18 kelometre run (10 kilometres
for the women).
CSP Adm KW Tony Au Yiu kwan sounded the starting horn and 42 minutes and 23 seconds later, Li Yin-ping crossed the finish line in the women's event. ASU Police Constable Wong Wing-kuen (champion of the past two Nine Dragons Races) tok the men's competition in a blistering 1:3:12 to better himself and set a new record. |  Jittery runners before the start of the Nine Dragons Race | |
|
Overall champs, EU KW, took the Kowloon Team TRophy, with KC District and YT District coming in as very respectable first and second runners-up. | ||
|
THE Force Crime Prevention Capability
(FCPC) held its annual sports day late last year at the PSRC. Competition included basketball,
volleyball and tenpin bowling. Teams participated from each police region, as well as teams
representing Crime Prevention Bureau HQ, JPO's (including MARINE) and inspectorate officers.
At the end fo a very enjoyable day and after fierce rivalry, the clear winner was NTN region. Trophies were presented by CSP Crime Support J Bicknell , and SP CPB Simon Roberts. | ||
| FOR the past three years Tuen Mun District Headquarters has donated money saved in lieu of sending Christmas cards to charitable organisations. This year $23,000 was saved and presented to Friends of Hope Education Fund Chairman, Superintendent Wong Hungtak at the Tuen Mun Police Station. S P Wong said he has received support from his colleagues ever since the publication of an article on the education fund in OFFBEAT. He said the Friends of Hope Education Fund is now in the process of organising a charity golf match with the Police Golf match with the Police Golf Club. |
SPORTING NOTES Will be held on Saturday 16 January 1999 at Sai Kung. The race starts at 10am at Pak Tam Chung where all runners are required to register at the start before 9:30am. The course will be the same as last year, as are the number of categories grouped in accordance with gender and age. For more information fax CIP Cheung Wui, CPTI PTS: 2873-2507. OVER the years the Force has traditionally rallied to the needs of the less fortunate in society and it has always been the strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork that has determined the enthusiasm towards any fund raising activity. This year Force members can get involved in an activity that will challenge them and at the same time raise funds for Save the Children and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at the "Run for Life" event which takes place on indoor running machines to be set up at the Festival Walk shopping centre in Kowloon Tong from 3 to 7 February (Wednesday to Sunday). Eight-member teams, as well as individuals, are invited to take part with each team allotted a four-hour period during which time its members must run as far as possible. First prize is a Life-fitness TM9100HR treadmill (worth approximately $88,000). The entry fee for each team is $7,500, while individuals enter for as little as $150 ¡Ð all of which will be donated to the charities. All participants receive entry packages that include a Run for Life T-shirt. Also running in an attempt to rally support are Inspector Mark Sharp and ex-CIP Chris Hanselman, who will be trying to put an indoor, running record into the Guinness Book of World Records. Co-ordination the event are the two charities of Save the Children and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, For entry submissions please call Laurent Mak on 2802-0501, or fax 2802-7229. Further details can also be obtained from Mark Sharp on 2814-4298. A TEAM of eight table tennis players from the Hong Kong Garrison paid their first visit to the Police Sport s and Recreation Club since their arrival in the HKSAR on July 1,1997. Last month they took on the Hong Kong Police Table Tennis Club team led by its chairman, CSP lee Siu-kin. After exchanging souvenirs and gifts the competition began with ACP Personnel Yam Tat-wing taking the lead in the opening singles match. Although both sides played to win, the HKP team managed to claim victories in all the five matches. At the cocktail reception after the matches all agreed that the event was a great success and helped to further engender the good relationship between the Hong Kong Police and the Hong Kong Garrison. Police/PLA Liaison Officer, SSP Fung Kwok-on\indicated that more competitions would be arranged in coming months.
The HKP have played a football and basketball game against the Garrison at the their Stone
Cutters' Island Naval Base.
 Police Table Tennis Club members and Hong Kong Garrison players have a friendly chat before the match |
