Balances in Law Enforcement Column
Series II - Special Duties
Former OUD on his feet again
When he was labeled as an Officer with Unmanageable Debts (OUD) and a Health Impaired Officer (HIO) early in 2001, Police Constable Wong Siu-ki refused to believe that his doomsday was imminent. On the contrary, he made an all-out effort in order to shake off his labels as soon as possible.
By March this year, his efforts paid off when his name was removed from the OUD list - three years and three months after being put on the list. Coupled with this, he has made the grade in his job as a Base Guard in Marine East Division in Sai Kung, and has become more confident that his HIO label would leave him before long.
Besides base security, PC Wong is actively involved in monitoring INs and RNs in the Divisional Radio Room, dealing with sea-going vessels through a variety of communication channels, similar to report room duties in a land Division. His duty performances have been so good that he was recently given an acting appointment as Sergeant. Although the acting appointment lasted for only a short while, it was a big encouragement for PC Wong, indicating that he will soon be on his feet again.
In order to pay back for the assistance provided by the Force for his indebtedness, PC Wong is assisting Personnel Wing's Staff Relations Group (SRG) in promoting financial prudence within the Force. "If I can be of any help to the Staff Relations Group for its mission, I'm only too happy to do whatever I can!" he noted.
So far, PC Wong had shared his bitter experiences with middle management officers from New Territories North and South during two "outreach visits" arranged by SRG. He recounted to his audience how he had incurred his indebtedness, how he viewed his OUD label and how he had struggled to clear his name.
Indexed as HIO
Although classified as an OUD in January 2001, PC Wong considered himself lucky for not having lost his job, but he was dealt a major blow as a result of an earlier traffic accident, in which he sustained internal haemorrhage and multiple fractures to his limbs when his motorcycle collided with a private car on his way to work.
He stayed in hospital for three and a half months, and later recuperated at home for one month. Being a bodybuilding enthusiast with a robust physique in his younger days, PC Wong eventually made a speedy recovery, but what followed was something very devastating to him - being indexed as a HIO after doctor assessed that he had sustained an eight per cent permanent disability with his legs.
At that time, one could image what PC Wong would feel about his dire situation. "Inevitably, I was filled with despair, frustration, helplessness, and a lot of pressure, not knowing what lies ahead for me. It was just like the end of the world. Adding to my pressure were gossips among fellow officers and how they saw me as a HIO," he recalled. "But I completely ignored all the negative things around me, and didn't care what my colleagues said about me. My sole preoccupation was to clear my debts as soon as possible, to get rid of my HIO label, and to prove that I will be as capable as any other fellow officer."
PC Wong said what had helped him clear his indebtedness and "reform" were "will power, determination and perseverance". "On top of these, I accept the consequences of my indebtedness, and do every thing I can to resolve my financial problems. I'm glad that I have done this eventually," he added.
Beefing up physique
After being struck off the OUD list, PC Wong set about the task of proving that his disability is no setback to his career with the Force. He started "beefing up" his physique step by step with jogging, less strenuous exercises and then finally heading for the gym. Within a couple of months, he was so physically fit that he took up his former bodybuilding hobbit again. With muscular arms and chest, his body form belies his HIO image.
To prepare for taking on more challenging jobs in the future, PC Wong has actively equipped himself in terms of self-enhancement. He has attended six different courses since becoming a HIO, including the ECACCS Basic Course, FICS Course, RICS Course, and Armoury Duty Course. He is also planning to obtain a Government Vehicle Driving Licence.
PC Wong, who has worked in Marine Region for 17 years since leaving Police Training School, is anxious to return to work on launches, despite what he calls the "danger and pressure" of policing the waters of Hong Kong.
He pointed out that the danger and pressure are mainly posed by volatile weather conditions. "It's no exaggeration to say that Marine Police work is very often fraught with danger and unknown factors related to weather. Marine Police officers work under all sorts of weather conditions, such as big waves, strong wind, and scorching sun, etc. You can say it's a battle against the elements," he noted.
Battling against smuggling across the boundary is no less dangerous, PC Wong continued. "You can image the danger of chasing smugglers in high speed at night. There were many instances in the past of smugglers deliberately ramming into our boats in a desperate attempt to escape!" he added.
PC Wong further pointed out that other challenges for Marine Police officers are their own safety while carrying out their duties and the requirements to acquire professional qualifications. "If you don't have the required expertise, you can't do your jobs properly. If you can't look after your own safety, you can't save other people and do anything for them. That's why the management always stresses the importance of personal safety. Therefore, seamanship experience is of paramount importance to every Marine Police officer," he said.
Turning over a new leaf
Perhaps for PC Wong, his ordeals as OUD and HIO are blessings in disguise. He conceded "having turned over a new leaf", becoming more mature and more prudent with his spending, and more capable of coping with work challenges and pressure. More important for him is the fact that his fellow officers are well aware of these positive changes, he said.
Right now, he is looking forward to opportunities to put the knowledge he has acquired from his self-enhancement efforts to good use in other postings.
Comments by Psychological Services Group (PSG)
The interview with PC Wong Siu-ki (Ah Ki) was full of surprises. The first surprise was his strong physique, which was quite contradictory to my prior assumption of an officer with health impairments. What further surprised me was his speedy recovery both physical and psychological - he managed to return to duties after four-and-a-half-month treatment for his serious injuries from a traffic accident; to have repaid all his debts three years after he was indexed as OUD; and to have achieved outstanding work performance despite his HIO status. His resilience was not by luck, but was developed through his strenuous bodybuilding training since 1992.
Ah Ki said bodybuilding exercises strengthened not only his physique but also his psychological quality, including his ability to focus, determination, perseverance and will power. Numerous researches have proved the positive effects of physical exercises on one's psychological quality. It has been shown that both long-term and short-term exercises had a stabilising effect on one's mood - to lower negative moods (e.g. anxiety, depression and tension) and at the same time raise positive ones (e.g. feeling of wellness, confidence and sense of control).
Furthermore, it was found that habits of regular exercises were positively related to one's cognitive ability (e.g. perception, memory, and attention). Other positive impact included raising self-confidence, improving efficiency at work and even interpersonal relationship.
Ah Ki was once deep in a personal crisis because of his maladaptive lifestyles in the past. Yet the mental quality of self-confidence, determination and perseverance developed through bodybuilding helped him survive through the negative criticisms from other people, uncertainties about the future and limitations stemming from his "labels".
He held full responsibility for his own problems, took active steps to solve them, and focused on different opportunities to improve himself instead of ruminating the tease about his labels. Eventually at the present stage, he has achieved balances and is leading a better life.
We psychologists were often asked by police officers about training on Emotional Quotient (EQ). In my view, regular and appropriate physical exercises are one of the basic effective ways in EQ training.
Seek advice and help from the PSG: 2866-6206 (5th floor, 111 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay). PEN:psg@police.gov.hk
(All cases will be kept in strict confidence.)
PC Wong looks forward to opportunities to put his knowledge to good use in other postings