Martial arts practitioner Ms Angie Tsang started a new chapter in her life when she became a policewoman after passing out from the Police Training School (PTS).

Ms Angie Tsang is the best all-round
 Recruit Police Constable in her squad

"Before joining the Force, I initially thought that Police work was simple - catching thieves. After I joined the Force, I realised that a cop has to look after many things. Just like issuing a penalty ticket, a police officer has to follow the established procedures and write down many details. We have to act responsibly both to the public and to the Force," she said.

Ms Tsang, now 24, dreamed of becoming a policewoman when she was young. She said that she was first attracted by the sense of righteousness shown by uniformed policemen. Her childhood encounter, however, might also explain why she was so eager to be a Force member.

Even now, Ms Tsang clearly remembers that when she was only eight years old her mother was robbed in a lift. She said: "One day, my mum, my younger brother and me were inside a lift when a man suddenly held a chopper near my mother's neck. The man seized her money and a golden necklace before fleeing. My mum reported the case to the Police afterwards.

"Two days later, I saw the thief entering another housing block on the way back home. I told my mum about this and she phoned the detective in charge of the case. It was found out that another robbery did take place inside that building. As a result, the policeman took me to the Wan Chai Police Headquarters for a facial identification and took me to various nearby housing blocks to see if the thief happened to be there."

Though she was keen to be a policewoman, she could not join the Force earlier than January 2003 because of her intensive training in the martial arts.

Ms Tsang told OffBeat that she started practising Wushu only by chance. She recalled: "When I was young, my mum encouraged me to try out different things to develop my potential. That explained why I had learned gymnastics, dancing and even played the piano.

"Later on, my family moved to a new home and there was a martial arts training centre nearby. That prompted my mum to ask me if I wanted to learn Wushu. I thought, I had never tried martial arts before and it could be interesting. So, I tried it out because I loved sporting activities."

At the age of 10, Ms Tsang started off by learning lion dances and later focused on Wushu on the advice of her martial arts instructor Mr Ha Tak-kin. In the same year, she won her first-ever gold medal in the Hong Kong Wushu Age Group Competition. Thanks to her talent, the young girl was soon chosen by the Hong Kong Wushu Union to receive special training to pave the way for her to represent the territory in world events.

After years of training, Ms Tsang began to represent Hong Kong in international events. In 1996, her efforts paid off and she netted medals in the Asian Youth Wushu Competition. She also won medals in the World Wushu Championships in 1999 and 2001.

Later on, she represented Hong Kong in the Asian Games in 1998 and 2002. In the Busan Asian Games held last year, she was ranked sixth among athletes from 13 countries.

According to Ms Tsang, practising Wushu is also conducive to her Police work. She said: "At the minimum, it enhances my physical strength, dexterity and alertness and helps me maintain a disciplined lifestyle."

Ms Tsang said she had put in much effort to become a policewoman. "It's already six years since I graduated from secondary school. I seldom sit down and study hard, especially since I have to tour around to receive training in Wushu. I therefore have had to try very hard to make the grade."

Comparing the difficulties encountered in practising Wushu and training at PTS, she concluded: "I only have to be responsible to myself in practising Wushu. But in the Police, everything is a result of team effort. I need to be more cautious in doing things and be responsible towards colleagues in the Force."

Woman Police Constable Ms Angie Tsang: "I will be responsible towards my colleagues"

Ms Angie Tsang was 1st runner-up in the 5th World Wushu Championships