Advertised in August for just a handful of applicants, some 25 Inspectorate officers applied and signed on for the fortnightly sessions which started September 9.

SDU Commanding Officer Danko Au Yeung said the response exceeded his expectations and the sessions were running well.

"The reaction has been very encouraging and the attitude and enthusiasm of the officers has also been better than expected."

Superintendent Au Yeung said some officers were obviously fitter, and the rest were working to a personalised programme designed to bring them up to the necessary fitness level, conducted in their own time.

"This is just why we launched this programme, to give less-fit officers a fair chance to try for an SDU place and to dispel the myths concerning the Unit and its requirements," he said.

"We can see that when these lesser-fit guys see everybody else doing the same exercises as they are, it really encourages them, and all have been very eager to gain from the programme."

Headquarters Command and Control Centre Duty Officer Inspector Paul Ng Chi-chung said the personalised instruction was invaluable.

"We are slowly adapting to the programme which is good because if it was too hard then people would just give up.

"Instead, the instructors really help us through it by pointing out what areas we each need to work on and how to build fitness safely to avoid injuries," he said.

"Also, I have two Police Tactical Unit squad mates working with me on the programme which is great because we exchange knowledge, help each other train and compare our results."

IP Steve Ng Kai-kwong of PTU HQ Training Team Two added: "The personal attention is important because if officers hurt themselves they may lose interest in SDU.

"Also, this course is more fair and encouraging for IPs who are not as fit, as they can work themselves up to an appropriate fitness level to compete for an SDU post."

The course will finish in time for the next SDU selection exercise in March.

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