Learning from the Aussies
Sergeants Mr Noble Wong Chi-kong and Mr Calvin Dai Ka-fai attended a three-week Development Programme in West Australia early this year while Station Sergeants Mr Cliff Hui Wing-kee and Mr Kandy Tang Chi-keung completed the Management Development Programme held in Queensland late last year.
OffBeat talked to these trainees to see what they learned from the overseas studies.
After receiving training at the Western Australia Police Academy in Joondalup, Mr Wong and Mr Dai said they found the course useful and learned much from their overseas counterparts.
They said they were delighted to represent the Hong Kong Police on the course. Mr Wong said: "On one hand, the course allowed us to understand more about the Western Australia Police Service. On the other hand, it helped introduce the professional image and practical work of the Hong Kong Police to their overseas counterparts."
During the course, the pair was invited to take part in a one-week placement course in which they had the opportunity to tour around many Police units like the Water Police, Mounted Police, Kennel Unit and a new police station in Kensington. They also joined a late-night operation organised by the Major Incident Group (MIG).
Attached to the Hung Hom Division Patrol Sub-Unit, Mr Dai said the course he attended was tailor-made for Senior Constables who were qualified for promotion to Sergeants. He said: "In Western Australia, the duties and responsibilities of Sergeants are really different from those in Hong Kong. A Sergeant has to be responsible for strategic planning like formulating the year plan and budget of a police station."
The Police Tactical Unit Sergeant, Mr Wong said: "As the police jurisdiction of Western Australia is very large, a Sergeant may be the head of a police station. In some places, a Senior Constable has to oversee a huge place equivalent in size to Kowloon, although most of the area is desert.
"In Western Australia, 24-hour service at police station is not a must. When there are emergencies, the MIG will take over."
According to Mr Dai, the Police Academy is located somewhere between a university and a college and does not have a library or gymnasium. As a result, police trainees make use of the facilities at the university. The university, in turn, organises courses to enable its students to know more about the police. Graduates of the Academy are exempted from university entry requirements.
"The special town planning and design of the Police Academy is to foster closer integration between the Police and the community in a bid to minimise possible conflicts in the future," he added.
Earlier, Mr Hui and Mr Tang attended a course specially designed for Senior Sergeants in Queensland with the aim of coaching them to become strategic managers.
The New Territories South Regional Missing Persons Unit Station Sergeant, Mr Hui said: "It was indeed a precious learning opportunity as the Academy had invited many renowned speakers, including chief executive officers of conglomerates, to share their leadership and management experiences with the officers."
The duo also saw for themselves how the Traffic Division set radar equipment to monitor car speed and how the Water Police patrolled and prosecuted people who failed to obtain appropriate licences for water sports.
Both of them shared the view that they could acquire knowledge on the course that was not readily available in Hong Kong. The course, rather than elaborating on management concepts, focused much on the analytical abilities of students, they said.
Mr Hui said he learned much from the trip. He said: "It was an invaluable opportunity for us to communicate with our overseas counterparts. It enabled us to be even more confident when learning in an unfamiliar environment."
"After the trip, I feel more comfortable about speaking or writing a foreign language. I am also happy that our instructors and fellow classmates in Queensland shared the view that the standard of Hong Kong Police was high," said Mr Tang, who now works in the Lei Muk Shue Division Task Force.
Training Wing Headquarters Support Division Superintendent, Mr Yiu Kai-bor, said he was delighted to learn the positive and very encouraging feedback from both the nominated officers and the two Australian Police training institutes about the training courses attended for the first time by two SSGTs and two SGTs in Queensland Police Academy and the Western Australia Police Academy, respectively.
"Training Wing and Personnel Wing are indeed working closely together to enhance the training opportunities from various sources with a view to instiling a sense of belonging, pride and job satisfaction of our officers by building up their confidence through increased training opportunities locally and overseas in accordance with the Commissioner's Three Year Strategic Action Plan," Mr Yiu added.
