Senior Inspector Mr Simon Ip Che-man: "Happy to carry on sailing"

Officers wishing to stay in Marine Region for a longer period can do so, and they will then be expected acquire a more advanced qualification: the Marine Police Navigation & Command Certificate (MPNCC).

The aim of this policy, Mr Cheung explained, was and is still to meet the need for an equitable distribution of inspectors and senior inspectors between Land and Marine Regions. It was also anticipated that the policy would achieve a cross-fertilisation of experience to the ultimate benefit of the Force and the officers involved.

Without the new policy, Marine Region would find its succession planning very difficult. Inspectorate officers serving in Marine Region are comparatively more mature and a flow of younger officers is needed to ensure appropriate succession can be achieved. These young officers will come and stay for a few years before rotating out for career development. Eventually, some may return with broader experience and, hopefully, higher rank.

"The Police Tactical Unit's disbanded companies are now our principal source of recruitment, but," Mr Cheung emphasised, "they are not the only one!"

"Any inspector serving in any capacity in any unit in the Land Region who is interested in sea-going duties can apply for a transfer to Marine Region," he said.

Mr Cheung explained that if they are suitable, and meet the eye-sight standard set by the International Maritime Organisation, they will then be treated exactly the same as officers from the disbanded Police Tactical Unit companies.

From a man's point of view

"I'm happy to stay on and go for the higher MPNCC qualification mentioned by Mr Cheung," said Senior Inspector Simon Ip Che-man, who has been in the Force for five years.

"I was a bit disappointed to hear that I had been posted to Marine Region after my Police Tactical Unit company was disbanded," said Simon. "I had hoped to be involved in crime investigation, not sailing around the waters of Hong Kong. But soon after I started, I began to enjoy the work.

"There was a lot to learn," said Simon. "There is quite a lot of technical equipment on the patrol launches, and even learning how to avoid falling overboard in rough seas or on tricky stop-and-search operations wasn't all that easy. I got a good pass in the all-important MPEC examination and that was very satisfying. More importantly I was able to help set-up an internal communications journal in which we publish information of specific interest and value to everyone serving in Marine Region.

"There is much closer comradeship among the crews of the launches. You spend 24 hours on duty in a pretty confined space and can really get to know your colleagues. You are also very conscious that we are all dependent upon one another," he added.

From a woman's point of view

"It was a surprisingly great experience but now I am looking for a few years in Land Region during which I can gain more skills and experience, and hopefully promotion, before returning to Marine Region," said Senior Inspector Ms Ng Miu-sheung who has also been in the Force for five years.

She was the first woman inspector posted to Marine Region under the new policy and, because of a general shortage of inspectors in Kowloon West at the time, the only one from her PTU company. "I tried hard to avoid going to Marine Region," she said. "I really had no interest in it. Even though my Company Commander assured me that I could transfer out after a couple of years, I feared that I would be wasting two years in career development and possibly get trapped there.

"Then came two or three weeks in which I was less than happy. That was the time it took me to find my sea-legs, get used to packing everything I needed for a 24-hour spell of duty, and start 'learning the ropes'.

"The thing I will remember most about sea-going duties is the attitude of colleagues of all ranks towards one another and towards members of the public. Launch crews form very close-knit groups, more like a family than a police squad. For years Marine Police have operated on small boats far away from any back-up. In Land Region you can usually get re-inforcements within 10 minutes. Not so at sea.

"Finally," said Ms Ng, "I was really impressed by the very real challenge presented by all the high-technology equipment on board the vessels. Sea-going duties are surprisingly enjoyable, and I am sure I have gained skills and experience that will assist me throughout my career - even if, sadly, I never return to Marine Region."

Woman Senior Inspector Ms Ng Miu-sheung: "A surprisingly great experience"