The Force was recently awarded the Top Donor of the Year (Civil Service Category) by the Community Chest for raising a total of $8.48 million in 2000/2001.

Chief Superintendent Personnel Services Jawaid Khan said: "Through our participation in the Chest's various charity events, we are not only able to raise money for the Chest and help the needy, but also emphasise our role as a part of the community.

He continued: "This is also in line with our vision that emphasises work in partnership with the community and other agencies, as well as showing fairness, impartiality and compassion in all our dealings."

CSP Khan recalled that the affinity of the Force with the Chest dated back to the 1970s when the Chest was in its early days.

On the Force's active participation in various fund-raising activities for the Chest, he said: "Last year, the collection boxes set up at every formation to encourage staff contribution towards the 'Corporate & Employee Contribution Programme' raised over $100,000 for the needy.

"The Force also successfully raised $7 million for the Chest through the 'Police Open Day 2000' held on November 25 and 26 at the Police Training School.

"This year the Force participated with other departments in the Civil Service fund-raising events for the Chest. A large-scale extravaganza, 'Civil Service for the Chest', was jointly launched by the Civil Service Bureau and the Chest from April to June. We helped raise over $800,000."

He added: "The Dress Casual Day in October this year was the most recent Chest fund-raising programme participated by the Force. A total of $52,657 was raised with the Traffic Branch Headquarters as the top donor and the Commercial Crime Bureau the second."

Besides the Force's cooperation with the Chest, officers as individuals or groups also participate in other charitable or community activities in their own time. Such activities include the Hong Kong Special Olympics-Torch Run, Trail Walkers, Operation Breakthrough, visiting old age homes and the terminally ill, distribution of rice and mooncakes to the elderly, hill fire prevention and fund-raising for the Police Children's Education Trust.

CSP Khan said that donations by Force members are entirely voluntary. "Charity activities organised by the Force or Community Chest activities involving the Force are coordinated by the Personnel Services Branch while other charity activities are run by staff associations, sports and arts clubs and individual officers voluntarily in their own time.