What PC Chan Chi-ming had experienced and observed during his eight years' service with the Force epitomised the work of an average police officer, Mr Lee noted.

Mr Lee said he came across Chi-ming when he met officers of a 50-member taskforce on their return from Phuket in Thailand after helping out in the Government Contingent.

He said Chi-ming had volunteered to join the taskforce because he saw heavy responsibilities and significance in the taskforce's mission.

"After the incident, Chi-ming realised that police duties are not confined to day-to-day work in Hong Kong, and in the event a disaster strikes outside Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Police Force would try their best to help Hong Kong residents requiring assistance overseas. As a result, our work has become more diverse, as well as more complex and challenging," Mr Lee added.

Attracted by the challenges of police work, steady pay and good promotion prospect, the Commissioner continued, Chi-ming joined the Force in early 1997.

Diverse duties

"Though he isn't as agile as Jackie Chan, Chi-ming is full of zeal for serving the community, and has received professional training. His daily work is certainly much more than every one can often see - stopping and questioning suspects, handing out tickets to motorists and catching thieves.

"Behind the scene, he is often called upon to act as a mediator in family disputes; a negotiator trying to talk a person sitting on a window ledge out of committing suicide; a counsellor to comfort the families of traffic accident victims; or as a social worker and a teacher in charge of school discipline. Doing these different jobs is by no means easy!"

Chi-ming also has got used to performing crowd control duties whilst members of the public revel during festive seasons, Mr Lee pointed out.

"During the Lunar New Year, you may go to Tsim Sha Tsui East for dinner or the Fireworks Display, but on the night of the second New Year Day last year, Chi-ming went to Lei Yue Mun to see fireworks, or more precisely to handle detonation of a small firework device by a mischief-maker inside a public lavatory - spending a festival amid the smell of gun powder and other odour. And there are also follow-up work to do in the cases of persons jumping from height and involved in traffic accidents, etc.," said Mr Lee.

But what is most unforgettable for Chi-ming is the case in which a man knelt down to beg him and his colleagues to turn a blind eye to his wife's and son's illegal stay in Hong Kong, Mr Lee pointed out.

"Chi-ming felt very sorry and had a sense of inconsistency. On one hand he had no wish to break up a family, but on the other hand he realised he had duties to discharge. From this case, he came to realise that law enforcement officers sometimes feel helplessness between law and emotion," said Mr Lee.

"Chi-ming also always bears in mind a comment by a retired police inspector, who said: "The life of a police officer is just like this - every minute danger might happen to us, and every decision we take might be very important and have different consequences'. In facing an armed thug, a decision on the degree of force to be used, for instance whether to open fire, has to be made in a split second. The pressure police officers have to face comes from not only the heavy gear they carry, but also their psychological agony," Mr Lee added.

A new chapter in career

The Commissioner pointed out that starting in 2002, Chi-ming's pay was reduced by over 10 per cent and another baby son was born. Despite increased expenditure and less income, he had not wavered in his determination to serve the public, being convinced that the Force would support him and give him chances for his career development.

Consequently, Chi-ming was selected in January last year to attend a training course at the Beijing Public Security University, and had earlier received a letter informing him that he would be promoted to sergeant next month. He would take a big step towards the management platform and begin a new chapter in his police career.

Mr Lee stressed that teamwork and mutual understanding among officers, as well as public support are essential to fighting crime, and that Chi-ming fully realised these after he was hurt while trying to subdue a suspect.

"The suspect put up a fierce struggle. Fortunately with the help of passers-by and fellow officers racing to the scene, the suspect was eventually overpowered. Though injured in the incident, Chi-ming appreciated during the whole process that besides co-operation and support by colleagues, public support is equally important," Mr Lee noted.

The Commissioner further pointed out that besides protecting life and property, the Force is handling more and more public requests for assistance for matters not strictly related to police work. Citing examples, he said Chi-ming had responded to a 999 call by a woman who asked for help to lecture a naughty and disobedient son. He had also answered enquiries by many Mainland citizens on the "Individual Visit Scheme".

"The Hong Kong Police have enhanced its status in the eyes of the public and won outstanding customer service awards. Police and public co-operation is one of the most effective means of fighting crime. In 2004, the number of complaints against police dropped by nearly five per cent, indicating the Force's performances increasingly measure up public demands and expectations. We take these statistics and cases seriously so as to improve service quality.

"More importantly, Hong Kong is having a declining crime rate, and has been complimented as the most safe and stable place among 14 countries in the Asian Pacific region. Every member of the Force is very proud of this but will never rest on their laurels!" Mr Lee noted.

In closing, the Commissioner noted: "As a matter of fact, I've just put the different experiences of many officers on Chi-ming to bring out the bitters and sweets, as well as the diverse natures, of police work. However, I haven't mentioned the work of the CID, Traffic and specialist units such as the Special Duties Squad, Airport Security Unit, Police Tactical Unit, VIP Protection Unit and Technology Crime Division..., etc.

"We'll recruit 950 officers before March next year and welcome young people like Chi-ming to join us to serve the community. Every member of the Force is fully prepared to keep pace with the progress of society, and take on more and bigger challenges. We're committed to our duties and missions, and will continue contributing to making Hong Kong one of the safest cities in the world!"