SIP Ng also appreciates that the Force attaches importance to training for staff and has provided them with many training opportunities, such as on-the-job or overseas training. "Though I am in charge of only a divisional investigation team - the lowest tier in the crime stream, I was offered an overseas training opportunity, indicating that the Force will provide opportunities for those who do well in their jobs.

"The course is very useful for crime stream officers and provides an international perspective for all the course members," he told OffBeat.

The Thai Government and US jointly establish the ILEA to provide a wide range of courses to members of law enforcement agencies in Southeast Asia.

SIP Ng attended the six-week ILEA course recently, along with two representatives from the ICAC and Immigration Department. Fifty-four other representatives came from the Mainland and 12 countries or regions in Southeast Asia.

The ILEA course is a core programme, covering 30 different crime related and staff management topics, such as transnational crime, cyber crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, criminal investigation, human smuggling, organised crime, terrorism, leadership, management and officer safety. The instructors and guest lecturers were mainly from US law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and US universities.

To foster interaction among course members, the instructors encouraged them to take part in group discussions and presentations, as well as experience sharing during classroom lectures. The instructors also organised a wide range of interesting and valuable practical exercises for some specialised topics, including cyber crime, narcotics and explosives investigations.

Apart from learning up-to-date knowledge and experience for combating crime, Mr Ng said he had enhanced his networking and inter-personal skills through contacts with his counterparts from different countries with different cultures and religions. He will treasure and maintain the friendship and networking he has built up at the ILEA.

SIP Ng was the first officer selected for the ILEA course this financial year. In May this year, a non-commissioned officer (NCO) attended a Computer Crimes Investigation Course at the ILEA. Later this financial year, three more NCOs will be selected to attend a Narcotics Unit Commander's Course, Complex Financial Crimes Investigation Course and Criminal Intelligence Course.

SIP Ng (third from right) joins Public Security Bureau officers in a room entry exercise