Police Translators, known as Police Interpreters before 1998, are members of a time-honoured departmental grade within the Force, supporting officers in the fight against crime and in other aspects of police work.

In the old days, many members of the community referred to a Police Interpreter as the "Tai Sie" (literally means "Chief Clerk"), but this complimentary term can hardly reflect adequately Police Interpreters' calling and the aptitude they possess.

Police Interpreter was renamed Police Translator in 1998 to reflect changes, and more accurately the nature of their duties. Nowadays, they are posted to many different units, including those in Districts, Regional Headquarters, Police Headquarters and specialist units.

An aptitude for putting pen to paper and a flair for Chinese dialects are the basic and essential pre-requisites of Police Translators. Unlike the situation before the change of post title, translation now takes up the bulk of a Police Translator's workload.

During an interview by the Psychological Services Group (PSG) and the Staff Relations Group, Senior Police Translator Rosina Y Y Chu from Sha Tin District, who has been working in the Police Translator grade for 31 years, described the job nature of her colleagues and the challenges they are facing.

Providing "customer-oriented" services

According to Rosina, Police Translators take police officers as their clients in providing "customer-oriented" services. And these services cover a wide spectrum of police work, including investigations, operations and administration chores, etc.

Like police officers, Police Translators work shifts to meet operational needs and if necessary beyond normal shift hours. For example, the workload related to a couple of special investigations or operations in the past required Rosina to work closely with her police colleagues for long hours and on public holidays. "When you see a major investigation or operation producing good results and criminals being brought to justice, you'll get job satisfaction and feel your extra efforts are worthwhile," she noted.

Rosina pointed out that Police Translators regard a heavy workload as part of their jobs and take it in their strides. "When a heavy workload requires urgent attention, the way to get the job done is to reach a consensus or compromise on priorities with officers, and this approach always works for me," she noted.

Rosina also pointed out that on the "heyday" in 1996, the establishment of Police Interpreter grade officers stood at 578, but nowadays it has dropped to just 262. "This situation has been brought about mainly by the Voluntary Retirement Scheme, a freeze on recruitment since the scheme was rolled out, colleagues joining other government departments on internal transfer and natural wastage," she explained.

Despite this big drop, Rosina continued, Police Translator grade officers had managed to maintain work output at a satisfactory level by setting priorities, maximising manpower and taking contingency measures. Another measure that has helped them cope with a heavy workload is teamwork, whereby those not so busy in other units or districts at a particular moment would readily share the heavy workload of those being stretched to the limits. "This cross-district or cross-unit assistance is a special feature of the Police Translator grade," said Rosina with a sense of pride.

The Force has undergone changes for good and remained abreast of times over the years and so have Police Translators.

Police Translators, Rosina stressed, are well aware of the need to better equip themselves for their jobs, amid the rapid changes in society and the rapid developments of information technology. To further enhance their expertise, they have made the most of the on-the-job training provided by their own Training Section as well as that by the Civil Service Training and Development Institute. The fact that most Police Translators are now well versed in Putonghua speaks volumes for their efforts to boost the standards of their calling.

She also emphasised that as translation work covers so many different trades and professions, such as banking, economy, commerce, medicine, engineering and construction just to name a few, her colleagues have to constantly update themselves on the terminologies and jargons of those fields, in addition to changes in usage of Chinese and English in Hong Kong.

For her junior colleagues in the Force, Rosina's advice is "pursuing constant self-enhancement" and "respecting your job", and that for the more senior ones is "seizing time for pursuing a hobby".

She is a staunch supporter of the promotion of a healthy lifestyle within the Force. Being a long-time member and the First Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Police Painting and Calligraphy Club for the past three years, she knows only too well what a healthy lifestyle and a balanced life can offer her colleagues.

"Painting and practising calligraphy help me achieve a balanced life and bring me a serene mind!" she said in wrapping up the interview.

Comments by PSG

Rosina is the role model of living a balanced life. She regards her family as first priority and treats her office as her second home and enjoys both "family lives". Besides these two "families", she finds her own personal space and enjoyment in her practice of painting and calligraphy, which is a crucial outlet for her stress and the source of satisfaction.

There were significant changes in Rosina's work as a member of the Police Translator grade in the past decade, such as changes in major duties, rapid development in technology and information systems, and drop in manpower, etc. Rosina adopted an open attitude in the face of these changes and actively equipped herself to meet challenges, so that she could remain competent and enthusiastic at work. One of the best stress management strategies in this rapidly-changing era is to update and advance oneself with society.

Rosina has a passion for life and has a lot of wisdom. She has three years to go before retirement but already advocates a retirement strategy of "5 Goods" - good financial management, good partner, good friends, good health and good hobby or interest. This "5 Goods" strategy would not achieve its effect overnight but has to be developed as early as possible. When leading a balanced life becomes your habit, then you can enjoy your life no matter you are working or have retired.

Civil Service Newsletter's 2008 calendar carries Rosina's painting works