PC Ng and SSGT Chan explain their work over the festive period

First it was Christmas, then came the new millennium rollover on New Year's Eve, and that was all before the rush of the Lunar New Year!

With the festive season finally over, it's time to see how front-line officers feel about working non-stop during all fun and keep revellers in order.

OffBeat recently chatted with Station Sergeant Chan Wai-kuen from Wan Chai Division Task Force and Police Constable Ng Man-ho from Waterfront Division's Patrol Sub-unit Team Four, both of whom were fully involved in crowd control duties during the past few months.

SSGT Chan said: "During the new millennium rollover the crowd was exceptionally outrageous. But as long as they weren't doing anything harmful, we wouldn't stand in their way."

PC Ng, working near Sogo department store on the big night, added: "Everybody was over the moon that night with some even wanting to take photos with us!"

Like the people in the streets, the adrenaline of SSGT Chan and PC Ng shot up during the exciting countdown to midnight as they couldn't afford to let revellers' emotions get out of control.

"It's only when the New Year was ushered in and the crowd gradually dispersed that we could breath a sigh of relief," they said, adding they were soon in full swing for crowd control preparations for the Lunar New Year.

SSGT Chan said: "People were eager to welcome the Year of the Dragon and it was evident from the large crowd flocking to the fair at the Victoria Park. And I think the recovering economy helped put a smiling face on everyone."

Both officers said it was good to see people enjoying the fairs and fireworks happily and safely. While PC Ng managed to shoot off to the Victoria Park fair with his friends after his shift ended around midnight, it was all too much for SSGT Chan who doesn't like crowds. They said they had arranged to have their traditional reunion dinner with their families a week before the New Year, so they could work the New Year shift.

The hard-working officers were joined by some 2,400 Auxiliaries who voluntarily took up crowd-management duties during the Lunar New Year period.