With preparation underway to mark the forthcoming 40th anniversary of the former Hong Kong Police Cadet School, several ex-staff members have unfolded their fond memories to the 40th Anniversary Working Committee. Having spoken to the committee are staff member of the Police Adventure Training Unit (PATU), housemaster, physical education instructor, and academic teacher.

When it comes to the achievements of their outdoor activities, every ex-police cadet would at once refer to the mentally and physically demanding training provided by the PATU, which played a key role in enhancing cadets' self-confidence and problem-solving ability with a series of outdoor challenges, such as rock climbing, abseiling, strenuous physical exercise, canoeing and hiking.

In a recent reunion party, former PATU staff members, including Mr Roy Bailey, who was the PATU Officer Commanding, Mr Liu Man-wai, Mr Chow Chi-keung, Mr Ngai Chi-yuen, Mr Cheung Hing-man and Mr Cheung Yuen-kwong shared their feelings about the cadet school.

Mr Bailey, who speaks fluent Cantonese, recalled that the outdoor training programme for cadets was mapped out in 10 days after the cadet school was established. PATU staff supported cadets all the way, offering encouragement and advice to help them overcome every challenge.  For all outdoor training instructors, the biggest challenge was ensuring safety of the cadets. And there was a strong bond of brotherhood among the instructors.

The 40th Anniversary Working Committee has also interviewed three founding staff members of the cadet school: Mr Chan Siu-wah, housemaster, Mr Cheung Wui, physical training instructor, and Mr Tsing Nai-kan, academic teacher. They were all in their early twenties when they started working as part of the first batch of staff.

Mr Chan was a sergeant and a potential officer when he was handpicked in 1972 to help Police Tactical Unit organise summer camps for police children. The following year when the cadet school was established, he was recruited as a housemaster. 

He recalled that when he started working in Fan Gardens in July 1973, many facilities were not in place, except the Commandant's Office. Therefore, he and other housemasters had to do a lot of preparations, such as setting up beds and lockers in dormitories as well as tables and chairs in classrooms. They also designed and prepared for training for cadets in foot-drill, discipline and vocations.

The first batch of 150 cadets was selected from over 1,000 applicants and had a high calibre. Mr Chan remembers Commandant Birney as an affable person with a sense of humour and caring with his staff and cadets. He attributed his advancement to the Inspectorate to the "personal lecture of functional leadership" Mr Birney gave him before he attended a promotion interview.

Though his spell in the cadet school was only 11 months, Mr Chan had developed a close bond with the cadets by the time he left for his Inspectorate training. One year later, he returned to the cadet school and worked in the PATU.

Having taught in both primary and secondary schools, Mr Cheung was working in Educational Television (ETV) when he responded to the cadet school's recruitment for physical education instructors. To him, the job was challenging and meaningful, especially grooming would-be police officers. He first worked as a Physical Education Instructor and then Head of Physical Studies until transferring to the former Police Training School in 1989 shortly before closure of the cadet school.

Challenging job with satisfaction

Despite his heavy workload, Mr Cheung enjoyed the satisfaction brought by his job, particularly leading the cadets to take part in outside sport competitions.  With excellent physical fitness, the cadets pulled off many victories.

He is still impressed by the cadet school's first participation in the Hong Kong Schools Cross Country Tournament. The cadets faced strong competitors, including those from famous local and international schools, but did not let Mr Birney and Mr Cheung down, winning the first six places of the tournament.
For Mr Cheung, his spell in the cadet school was his "most glorious time" of his police career.