The end of a wonderful time

Chief Inspector James Gill, 'Jamie' to his friends, was in a thoughtful mood when working his last day at the Central Traffic Prosecutions Bureau in Asian House.

"I have mixed feelings about my retirement," Jamie told Offbeat. "Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Police Force, has been good for me, my family and my future."

A colleague of Jamie's told Offbeat: "I have served with Jamie for more than 30 years and know him to have been a thoroughly competent and conscientious member of the Force," said Senior Superintendent Mr Paul Croft. "But most people meeting him outside of his office or uniform would never have guessed that he was a Policeman. He was a gentle person. He treated everyone in a friendly and respectful way, and was always ready to help anyone in trouble. He was very family-oriented and an active member of the Roman Catholic Church.

Speaking of his time in Hong Kong, Jamie said "I've had 35 wonderful years with the Force and it's hard to turn your back on that. I have made a lot of friends, both in the Force and outside it, as have my wife and three children.

Of course, we will try to keep in touch with as many of them as possible, and may even return here for the odd visit, but the reality is that we have to get down to building a 'second' life based on the home we've bought in Devonshire. And that's a challenge relished by both my wife and I, " he added. "Hopefully I'll have a score or more years ahead of me. Years in which to do things I want to do, in the ways I want to do them. I have a lovely wife to share the future with me, and three wonderful children who will doubtless eventually provide us with some grandchildren to spoil."

He spent about 10 years in Marine Police, a couple of years with the Criminal Investigation Division, and a couple more in the courts, but most of the time he has been involved in Traffic Branch duties.

"The best thing that ever happened to me," said Jamie, "was just a couple of years after I joined the Force. I went to the Kwun Tong Police Mess Christmas Party in 1972. There I met a Queen Alexander's Royal Army Nursing Corps Captain, Miss Annette Ottley. We married a year later and the honeymoon isn't over yet!"

"I'm a lucky guy," said Jamie, "I have a long time to enjoy sailing and driving off-the-road and going to places I have yet to see in England. I can also afford to do some voluntary work, perhaps through my local church, such as helping to drive elderly or disabled people to shop or get medical attention.

I'm also interested in raising funds to supply appropriate transport to third world medical missionaries and other aid workers. I shall keep active," he concluded.

Ready for new challenges

"Don't ever stop learning, don't ever stop striving; the higher you aim, the higher you'll go," is the farewell message to all members of the Force from former Sau Mau Ping District Commander Mr Tony Au Yiu-kwan.

Tony, who joined the Force as an inspector in 1968, is about to retire in the rank of chief superintendent. "I've had a challenging, but most interesting and enjoyable career," he told Offbeat, "especially after attending Bramshill Police College in the United Kingdom.

"The Overseas Command Course I attended there was followed by a two-year attachment to the Sussex Constabulary as Superintendent-in-charge at Gatwick Airport. During that period," said Tony, "I took the opportunity to obtain my Master Degree in Criminology from Cambridge University.

"But, I also experienced the greatest challenge to my professionalism and self-confidence. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, was due to open the new 'North Terminal' and security was obviously at a very high level. Shortly before she was due to arrive, an electronic sniffer alarm was activated by the shuttle train.

"Since I had deployed well-trained and properly briefed officers to inspect the train and then keep a watch on it, I reasoned that the alarm must have been activated by an accumulation of cleansing materials rather than an explosive device. That is not an uncommon phenomenon.

"I so advised my superiors and, as a result, the Queen's visit was allowed to go ahead. But for me it was still a worrying time. I was an 'overseas' officer responsible for ensuring the Queen's safety, if I and my team had not done our job properly, her visit would have been aborted or, even worse, she and many other people may have been killed or injured.

Tony spent some time in several postings before his final posting as Sau Mau Ping District Commander.

"Actually, I don't really feel like retiring so young. I surely have at least another five or ten good productive years ahead of me," said Tony, adding that he is ready to face the challenges of an active retirement!

Jamie Gill : "The Hong Kong Police Force has been good for me, my family and my future"

Tony Au is ready for new challenges in a new career

Young Tony