Deputy Commissioner (Management) Fung Siu-yuen is proceeding on pre-retirement leave on January 7 after 35 years' distinguished service with the Force, but he would opt for police work again if he were given a second chance.

"This is because police work is so varied, meaningful, interesting and challenging. Police work has given me opportunities and room to develop my potentials. It also provides officers with opportunities to broaden their outlook and international networking through overseas training and conferences, etc.," he explained during an interview with OffBeat on November 22.

For Mr Fung, work and family life are equally important, and like many people, he makes every effort to strike a sensible balance between the two.

He noted that working for 35 years with an organisation was definitely a long period for any person, but in his case police work kept him meaningfully and gainfully occupied because every post where he had worked carried a different job nature and a different challenge.

"The Force is so big and with so many different posts that every post we are deployed to is a kind of new job. So you won't feel you're working in the same job for a lifetime. On the contrary this brings you new challenges and job novelties, and broadens your horizon," he elaborated.

Watershed change

Having served the Force for such a long time, Mr Fung naturally has witnessed and played a role in the changes that have taken place within the Force over the years. Among the many changes, he described the introduction of service quality in 1995 as the "watershed" of the changes.

"The Force is constantly marching forward. Implementation of the concept of service quality has transformed the Force from a para-military organisation to one dedicated to providing the best services possible to the community, assuming the roles of both a law enforcer and a service provider. This is a very major change having a major impact on Force culture and officers' practices.

"We started practising service quality at an early stage, and have been persisting in this direction for over 10 years. If we still remain merely a law enforcement agency, we would not have become what we are today, and would not have earned the public's recognition and support.

"To deliver the best services possible, we ourselves have changed too. We've enhanced officers' expertise and ability. What is particular about these changes is the fact that they have not been forced upon us by external pressure or crises. They came from inside the Force - the management's foresight and recognition of the need to keep pace with the changes in society," said Mr Fung.

Elaborating on the changes the service quality concept had brought to Force culture, Mr Fung cited the promotion of a healthy lifestyle among officers as a notable example. But he quickly clarified that the promotion did not reflect on officers' health conditions. Rather it stemmed from a desire by the management to encourage officers to engage in healthy pursuits after work in order to ease the pressure of an increasing workload.

"In tandem with the healthy lifestyle promotion is promotion of honesty and integrity among officers. These changes to 'software' are more significant than those to 'hardware'. 'Hardware' changes are easy; you can replace all police vehicles with new ones if you've money, but it is impossible for you to replace all officers. The positive changes in officers' practices and culture have contributed to our achievement today."

Challenges for the Force

Speaking of challenges for the Force in the next few years, Mr Fung pointed out that the Statement of Strategic Directions recently announced by CP had identified where the challenges would lie.

"The Strategic Action Plan for the next three years will thrash out the measures to achieve our strategic objectives," he noted.

Mr Fung also sees the needs for the Force to maximise existing resources and to compete with the private sector and other government departments for recruits as additional challenges.

"In recent years, our workload and responsibilities have become more heavy, but a significant increase in manpower seems unlikely in the near future. So as public expectations of the Force keep rising, it is a major challenge for the Force to make the most of existing resources to continue providing quality services to the public. In fact the strategic direction of 'Supporting Frontline Units' was identified as one of the measures to maximise existing resources.

"Another major challenge for the Force is recruiting new blood to fill the vacancies that will arise as 'aging' of the Force gradually sets in. The Force needs to continue recruiting the best candidates, but this won't be an easy job when there are plenty of jobs around. In the present economic situation in Hong Kong, the Force has to compete with other Government departments and the private sector for talents," Mr Fung explained.

Challenging post

Mr Fung has worked in many different posts in different units, including nearly 18 years in the crime stream. Though reluctant to make a comparison of their significance and contribution, he did single out his last posting as Deputy Commissioner (Management) for a mention.

For Mr Fung, the post represents the pinnacle of his career. He recognises the significance and responsibilities it carries, and has done his best to get the job done.

"As DCP MAN, the issues I handle are more complex and wide-embracing. I know every decision I make would have an impact on the Force and individual officers, so in the last five years I always bore this in mind and worked gingerly, hoping I could serve the interests of the Force and officers better," he noted.

Mr Fung has yet to firm up a long-term plan for his well-deserved retirement, but one thing is certain - he would not consider a "second career". But in order to occupy himself more meaningfully during retirement, he might consider working as a volunteer worker.

Wrapping up his interview, Mr Fung offered this advice to Force members: "Police work is so interesting and challenging, and has so much to offer. Get yourself better equipped for serving the community!"

Missed by many

Many Force members who have worked with or known Mr Fung will greatly miss him. Six retired officers and serving Station Sergeant Chung Fat-yeung - all having worked with Mr Fung in the former Special Crime Division (SCD) at PHQ in the 1980s' and the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) Ñ have such a high regard for him that they confided to OffBeat about how they see Mr Fung as a young team leader and a crime buster.

They are retired Station Sergeant Lee Kwan-yiu, retired Sergeants Au Yeung Yu, Chan Kwan-ming and Yau Kwok-hung, and retired Police Constables Lee Wing-cham and Tse Chin-to. Four of them were members of one of the three investigation teams commanded by Mr Fung in SCD.

All the retirees and SSGT Chung sung the praises of Mr Fung's ability, dedication to duty, care and concern for his subordinates and cheerful personality. The following is a summary of their impressions of Mr Fung during their days in the SCD and OCTB.

As a supervisor, Mr Fung was impartial, considerate and very concerned about officers' safety during operations. After each operation, he had wash-up meetings with his subordinates and lent an ear to their views and suggestions. To promote esprit de corps and teamwork, he always made himself accessible to officers for any problem they might have, and where possible accepted their views and suggestions. In management and administration matters, he was equally good at putting pen to paper.

As commander of an operation, Mr Fung displayed a flair for planning and execution, as well as a sober and an analytic mind. Prior to an operation, he properly briefed his officers, and went to great lengths to give an explanation if an officer had any query.

Cheating death

To cite an example of Mr Fung's ability as a young team leader, the retirees recalled with much pride a gun battle during which he had a close brush with death as a bullet scraped and injured his face.

"Mr Fung was always on the frontline during an operation," noted Mr Tse, who was a member of a raiding party during the gun battle.

As a young Chief Inspector in charge of three investigation teams in SCD in 1982, Mr Fung took over investigation after three men rammed a stolen car against a police constable on patrol in Ho Man Tin and took off with the officer's service revolver, leaving the car at the scene. Evidence left in the car later led to the arrest of a suspect in a Tsim Sha Tsui flat.

Further investigation showed that the other two suspects might be taking refuge in a flat in North Point, and that one of them was formerly a soldier of the PLA, with the skill of making bullets. Intelligence also showed that the ex-soldier was a violent criminal.

On the day of nabbing the suspects at large, Mr Fung took over command of a raiding party comprising five officers. On arrival at the North Point flat, Mr Fung told the suspects barricading themselves inside a cubicle to drop their weapons and surrender.

However, the suspects chose to open fire. Exchange of shots ensued when the raiding party returned fire and subsequently injured the ex-soldier's hand. The suspects eventually surrendered.

Investigation at the scene showed that the ex-soldier had fired with the stolen revolver.

"During the exchange of fire, a bullet shaved Mr Fung's face because he positioned himself outside the door of the cubicle in order to stop the suspects from rushing out. Mr Fung's face was bleeding; it was a close call for him. During the incident, Mr Fung returned five shots," said Mr Tse.

The successful operation earned for Mr Fung a commendation by the then Governor for his leadership and outstanding performance in the operation.

Contribution to ESP

Mr Chan also pointed out that Mr Fung, as DCP MAN, had made a major contribution to meeting the targets set by the Government for the Force under the Efficiency Savings Programme (ESP). "Thanks to Mr Fung's efforts, the Force has saved a lot of money for the Government without compromising frontline policing services to the public and without any undue impact on the Force as a whole," he noted.

The six retirees have such a great respect for Mr Fung that they have been in touch with him since their retirement.

Mr Lee Kwan-yiu said: "Now that Mr Fung is retiring, I'm looking forward to arranging more reunion gatherings in the future."

Care and concern for rank and file

The Chairman of the Junior Police Officers' Association (JPOA), Station Sergeant Chung Kam-wa, has never worked with Mr Fung but holds him in high regard as a result of attending the quarterly informal meetings with Mr Fung, along with other JPOA representatives, over the past five years.

"Mr Fung began chairing the informal meeting after assuming his DCP post. Outside the meeting, I also have contacts with him through other activities of both the Force and JPOA. He has impressed me as a resourceful person with quick thinking and ability to make a quick response, and having a good grasp of what is happening within the Force," he noted.

He continued: "JPOA representatives had a sincere and direct dialogue with Mr Fung at the quarterly meetings. He always brings JPOA's views and aspirations to the attention of the Force management, and does his best to address matters of concern to the junior police officers."

Mr Chung said Mr Fung always takes the welfare of rank-and-file officers at heart. "If you've a problem, Mr Fung will try his best to help, but if he can't he will tell you, and will not dilly dally. In handling matters concerning rank-and-file officers, Mr Fung always takes a balanced approach", Mr Chung added.

Taking salute at PTU

Earlier on November 23 when he took salute at a passing-out parade of the Police Tactical Unit 'Foxtrot" Company, Mr Fung reminded the officers on parade that a lot of challenges are lying ahead for them, in particular the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events.

Calling on the officers to show their professionalism to the Hong Kong community and the world, he noted: "You will play a pivotal role during the period of the Events. I've no doubt your performance will be professional and outstanding."

"Besides the Events, different public activities are taking place these days and becoming part of life in Hong Kong. Policing these activities requires skills of a very high standard to ensure they would proceed smoothly and inconvenience to the citizens not involved would be reduced to the minimum.

"Furthermore, from time to time you will be called out to deal with some emergencies and unexpected events. Judging from your smart turnout today, I'm convinced that you will be able to take up various difficult tasks and challenges," Mr Fung added.