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Overseas programme selection unfair
My son applied to join the Overseas Summer Programme sponsored by the Police Welfare Fund in February and was to go to Switzerland after a subsequent open ballot.
We then received a letter from AFS telling us to attend a meeting, and were informed afterwards by one of its staff to await further information. However, we were later shocked to learn from a Police Welfare Officer that my son's application had failed, and no reasons whatsoever were given.
I called AFS for an explanation and was told that it was an internal matter and there would not be any explanation. Deeply distraught, my son and I thought a lot more students would be hurt should there be no improvements to the arrangements concerned.
I would like to know on what criteria did AFS assess whether an applicant was eligible to participate in the programme. And AFS should state these criteria very clearly and not adopt the open ballot that has proven to be unfair.
Mak Kwok-keung
Station Sergeant
Personnel Services replies . . .
This is the third year the PWF summer programme has been held. This year, there will be 15 children taking part in the various programmes organised by AFS Intercultural Exchanges - over 100 applications were received.
From the outset of publicity, it was made widely known an open ballot would be held to set priority in a fair and transparent way, and that the successfully drawn applicants would have to be assessed by AFS for suitability before sponsorship could be awarded. This was emphasised and reiterated to all parents and children attending the open ballot.
I believe Mr Mak will recall the declaration made by himself when he filled in the application form. It stated:
i) The applicant and his/her child will attend the open ballot at the Police Sports and Recreation Club on February 24; and,
ii) The sponsorship of the programme includes the application fee and 75 per cent of the programme fee but is subject to the child having passed the assessment interview by AFS.
The AFS assessment criteria had been publicised for general information in PEN messages.
We regret that Mr Mak's child was not selected, however, his comments are fully appreciated and will be extremely useful in our review of the programme. We shall keep readers informed of the results of our review and take this opportunity to thank Mr Mak for his comments.
If Mr Mak has further queries on this matter, he is welcome to contact the undersigned at 2804-1104 or EO PS 2, Connie Ho at 2804-1109.
Wong Wai-cheun
Senior Police Welfare Officer
(Administration and Support)
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