The two funds are accepting applications until January 31 from all Force members who have missed the opportunity to join them.

The Central Fund and the Family Protection Fund, administered with the assistance of the Personnel Services Branch (PSB), each provides a maximum insurance protection of $500,000 in the unfortunate event that an insured officer dies whilst in service or suffers from varying degrees of permanent disability caused by accidents.

Officers who join the Funds need to make a monthly contribution to the Funds on a voluntary basis and the Funds' Secretariat will then arrange for the Funds to join group life and accidental disablement insurance schemes offered by various insurance companies.

OffBeat recently interviewed PSB Senior Police Welfare Officer Wong Wai-cheun to find out more about the Funds.

"The Central Fund, established in 1974, is a self-help scheme for Junior Police Officers while the Family Protection Fund was set up in 1997 for the Inspectorate and above and all civilian staff in the Force.

"The basic principle of the Funds is to encourage officers to make a small monthly contribution, $46.30 per month for the Central Fund and $47.70 per month for the Family Protection Fund, for a basic financial protection.

"Many people believe that they do not need an insurance if they have enough savings. However, when it comes to an emergency situation that requires urgent additional expenses, they may find that they don't have enough money in hand as their money is already tied up with various kinds of commitment including investment.

Retired Woman Station Sergeant Ng Chui-lin, an ex-member of the Central Fund, spoke to OffBeat about her experience.

"I joined the Central Fund in 1974 but I had never thought that one day I would need it until I lost my eyesight completely because of cataracts," recalled Ms Ng.

"Having proved that I was suffering from permanent disability and lost the ability to work, the insurance company paid me $500,000. I must also thank the unfailing assistance provided by the Police Welfare Officers and the Secretariat of the Fund in my case.

"The money did make my family's livelihood much more secured. I strongly advise officers to join the Funds because they could obtain basic and comprehensive protection at a comparatively low insurance premium. Besides, in the unfortunate event that you need to make a claim, the Secretariat of the Fund will assist as far as possible in dealing with the insurance company for you," added Ms Ng.

Mr Wong said that if an officer wishes to have additional protection besides joining one of the two Funds, there are two other joint venture insurance schemes, 'Police Safety Protector' and 'Education Savings Plan', for consideration. Explanatory booklets are available at the PSB Headquarters and all Regional Welfare Offices.