The Police Officers Club was the venue for a banquet for 69 police officers and their family members from 10 different countries on November 12. The welcome banquet was the opening event for the International Police Association's (IPA) Friendship Week organised by the Hong Kong and Macao sections of the IPA.

Having a third of a million members in nearly 60 countries, IPA seeks to promote friendship among police officers of member countries. The Friendship Week was a bit like an ordinary package tour, but participants were treated more as guests rather than paying customers.

Each day, a number of volunteer guides from the Hong Kong IPA Section accompanied the group, answering their questions and giving advice on everything from how to hold chopsticks to the best place to buy computers. Many guests remarked that this contributed a lot to their enjoyment of their trip.

The welcome banquet was followed by a night time tram tour of Hong Kong Island. The programme for the next few days was designed to show the various facets of Hong Kong, ranging from temples and old villages in the New Territories to spectacular modern construction infrastructures such as the Tsing Ma bridge and the sky-scrapers in Central.

Not the least of Hong Kong's attractions is Chinese cuisine and the menu also offered plenty of varieties, including dim sum, Peking duck, and a sea-food dinner on Lamma. Judging from questionnaires, the buffet they enjoyed in their private box at the Sha Tin racecourse also made an impression.

As well as dining at both police clubs, the group visited other police buildings, including Police Headquarters, where Mr Lo Yik-kee, Kowloon West Regional Commander and a former Vice President of IPA, formally welcomed the group, Police Museum and Lok Ma Chau Police Station.

Feedback was very positive. Of the questionnaires that were returned, the guests were unanimous in rating the Friendship Week as excellent value for money and a wonderful experience overall. One remarked: "I can't believe this is the first tour you have organised. The tour compares favourably with any other IPA tours we have been on." Another commented: "The police who volunteered their time to make our trip special are to be commended. They were friendly, helpful and took every measure to provide us with a positive experience. It is a police department to be proud of."

On November 17 the guests left for Macao on a three-day tour. Their busy itinerary in Macao included visit to the Sands Casino and attendance at the finals of the Macao Grand Prix.

IPA Hong Kong Section thanks the colleagues whose assistance has contributed to the success of the event.

For more photos and information about IPA, refer to www.ipa-hksar.com.

Visit to PHQ

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