In this article, OffBeat reports on two cases to show the extent to which Personnel Services and Staff Relations Branch's Assistant Force Welfare Officers have helped an officer who was seriously injured on duty and another who lost his battle against cancer. The third case cited in the article shows that many police children have benefited from grants from the Police Children's Education Trust (PCET) and the Police Education and Welfare Trust (PE&WT).

In the cases of Sergeant Lo Chi-cheong, from Traffic Kowloon East, and the late Police Constable Wong Kai-ming, formerly with Marine Harbour Division, the regional welfare offices have done everything possible for both the officers and their families, demonstrating that the Force is really a caring employer.

Right now, Assistant Force Welfare Officer Lolita Ng Yuet-wah at the Kowloon East and Kowloon West Regional Welfare Office is still monitoring SGT Lo's case, almost one year after he was seriously injured in a blast caused by a gas leakage in a tenement building in Jordon Valley North Road last April 11.

SGT Lo was returning to office when he was instructed to rush to the scene of the gas leakage to direct traffic and arrange road closure. He was carrying out these duties outside the tenement building when a blast suddenly jolted him off the motorcycle he was riding. He sustained serious injuries to his head, right face and shoulders, as well as multiple bruises. He also had his right shoulder bone fractured and a tooth knocked off. Such was the impact of the blast that his helmet was also badly damaged.

SGT Lo was taken to the United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong, where he was operated on and was given over 100 stitches on the face. He was discharged from hospital on April 21 - 11 days after the blast. What followed was a long process of follow-up medical treatments and therapy, which required him to frequently return to hospital.

After recuperating at home, SGT Lo thought he was fit enough and, after consulting Ms Ng and his doctor, volunteered to return to work six months later because he missed his job and colleagues.

Big help by Kowloon Welfare Office

SGT Lo stressed that staff the Kowloon East and Kowloon West Regional Welfare Office offered him whatever assistance was required during both his hospitalisation and long sick leave. They were also concerned about what assistance his family might need.

"During my stay in hospital, Ms Ng kept my family updated on my condition and progress of recovery, not to mention coming to see me and visiting my family. Immediately after my operation, the Welfare Office arranged a private room for me, so that it would be more convenient for my family and colleagues to come to see me.

"The Welfare Office was also concerned that my traumas might have a psychological effect on me and my family. So it encouraged me and my family to undergo assessments by the Psychological Services Group," said SGT Lo.

After SGT Lo's discharge from hospital, the Welfare Office followed up closely on his recuperation as well as further treatments and therapy in hospital.

"I often return to hospital for follow-up treatments and therapy. To save me the troubles of making long trips to hospital in the interests of my recovery, the Welfare Office arranged for me to move to the Disciplined Services Quarters in Sau Mau Ping, which is close to the hospital. The office also helped me apply for financial assistance to buy a medical product to treat the scars on my face, recommended by the doctor. I'm very grateful for what Ms Ng and her colleagues have done for me throughout my ordeal." said SGT Lo.

Though having returned to work, mainly performing indoor duties, SGT Lo still requires further treatments to his shoulder bone, face and teeth, and Welfare Office will continue to look after his welfare needs.

Wrapping up the interview with OffBeat, SGT Lo commented: "The way the Welfare Office has helped me truly demonstrates that the Force does care about the wellbeing of every officer. Besides a big thank you to the Force and the Welfare Office, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my seniors and colleagues for the support and encouragement they showed me during my ordeal."

"Two-way street" caring

In the second case, PC Wong Kai-ming passed away last July, after losing his 10-month battle with colon cancer. His case shows that caring within the Force is indeed a "two-way street". In an interview with OffBeat, his wife said her husband, before passing away, fully experienced the caring culture within the Force.

Mrs Wong, a Clerical Assistant at the Police Tactical Unit Headquarters, accepted OffBeat's interview because she wants everybody know that care and love permeate many levels within the Force.

"I wish to say how deeply touched I've been by the care and love shown my husband by so many people within the Force, including his seniors, the Training and Staff Relations Officer and colleagues, as well as the staff of the Marine Regional Welfare Office.

"When Kai-ming was in hospital or at home on sick leave, his colleagues often came to see him after work. They enquired about his health and the progress of his chemotherapy, cheered him up and offered to lend a hand for any problem he might have. On the day before Kai-ming passed away, his Divisional Commander, Mr Leung Wai-shing, rushed to hospital when his condition deteriorated.

"Learning of my husband's plight, my own seniors and colleagues, in particular Mr Suen Kwai-leung (PTU Commandant), also showed me a lot of care and support. It's so good to have so many people who care about you when you're in difficulties times. All their care and love had relieved our anxiety and stress considerably and given Kai-ming something to hang on to his fight against cancer," Mrs Wong noted.

Mrs Wong pointed out that when her husband was in or out of hospital, staff of the Marine Regional Welfare Office offered every possible assistance. More tangibly, the office successfully assisted in applying for a $10,000 grant from the Police Welfare Fund to cover part of PC Wong's treatment. In addition, Mrs Wong, with the assistance of the office, the Superintendents' Association and the Junior Police Officers' Association, succeeded in seeking reimbursement by the Department of Health of more than $60,000 incurred in buying expensive medicine.

She is also very grateful to Assistant Force Welfare Officer Fung Chit-ming from the Marine Regional Welfare Office for frequently visiting PC Wong in hospital or at home. She also pointed out that when her husband was transferred to Queen Mary Hospital, Woman Sergeant Connie Lee Wing-yee from Headquarters and Hong Kong Island Welfare Office rendered whole-hearted concern and support during hospital visits. All those visits warmed PC Wong's heart, dispelled his feelings of helplessness, and enabled him to view his plight with an open mind.

"Every time after Ms Fung had come to see him, Kai-ming told me he was very happy - happy to have someone to talk to, and someone who cared about him and gave him spiritual support," said Mrs Wong.

Assistance and support for PC Wong's family did not cease even after his passing away. With Ms Fung's encouragement and referral, Mrs Wong has joined a Bereavement Group being run by the Welfare Service Group of the PS&SR Branch and a non-governmental organisation. By now, she has gone through her grief and started life afresh with her children, a son and a daughter. They are receiving a bursary of a total of $20,000 per year from the Police Education & Welfare Trust for their university education.

Education assistance for police children

Nineteen-year-old Victor Lee Kam-ho, son of retired Police Constable Lee Hang-leung, is one of the hundreds of police children who have benefited from scholarships and bursaries from the PCET and PE&WT.

Victor started studying medicine at the University of Hong Kong last summer, with a bursary of $10,000 per year from the PCET for his five-year tertiary education. The university accepted him under the Early Admission Scheme because of his outstanding performance in the 2005 Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination - a staggering record of nine "A" grades, for which Victor was also awarded a $10,000-scholarship from the PCET.

Incidentally, his elder sister, Victoria Lee Wing-po, is also a beneficiary of a PCET bursary for her medical studies at the same university as her brother. She has graduated and is now working as a Medical Officer with the Hospital Authority.

Victor said both he himself and his sister are very grateful to the Force for the financial assistance for their tertiary education.

"My tuition fee is more than $40,000 a year. Therefore, the $10,000 per year from the Force is really a big help to my family and for me to buy medical reference books, which are rather expensive. I'm also grateful to the Force for the scholarship for my Form 6 studies," said Victor.

Meanwhile, Force members, who wish to seek assistance or make enquiries, may approach the following offices: Secretariat of Police Education Trust: Ms May Tsang 2860-3242 Regional Welfare Offices: * Headquarters & Hong Kong Island Regional Welfare Office Force Welfare Officer (Acting) Gilbert Poon 2860-4121 * NTS & MAR Regional Welfare Office Force Welfare Officer Mary Yung 2418-0578 * KE & KW Regional Welfare Office Force Welfare Officer Sylvia Kwok 2150-7981 * NTN Regional Welfare Office Force Welfare Officer To Ming-yin 3183-9098

A TYDIV Volunteer Services Team member visiting an elderly living in solitude