With the 40th anniversary of the former Police Cadet School drawing closer, two former Deputy Commandants, Mr Ng Hon-kwan and Mr Lam Kin, have made a return visit to the site of the school.

 

Returning to Fan Gardens, site of the cadet school now being occupied by the Police Driving and Traffic Training Centre, Mr Ng was nostalgic for his days in the school. He was eager to look at every nook of the school, especially the old office and parade ground.

 

Interested in youth education, Mr Ng took up the Deputy Commandant post in 1984. He recalled that at that time both the general public and the Force had high hope that the school would train up youngsters.

 

He still has vivid memory of two things. For the first thing, he suggested forming an A-level class for academically bright cadets and those who had passed out to advance to the Inspectorate. In the absence of a permanent site for the school, his suggestion did not materialise.

 

The second thing was the first television series on the cadet school. With the scripts screened by Mr Ng, the series, starring Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Carina Lau and Sean Lau, were very successful, bringing the school's reputation to a new height. 

 

Mr Lam was the Deputy Commandant in June 1982 after completing a Command Course in the Scottish Police College. During his tenure, he introduced many new measures.

 

Shortly after his arrival, Mr Lam discovered that the school, nine years after its establishment, still did not have a school song. Feeling strongly that a disciplinary training institute like the cadet school should have one, he asked his good friend, famous composer Joseph Koo, to compose a marching tune to which Mr Cheung Yuen-man, a teacher of the school, added the lyrics, creating a macho song for the school.

 

To make the cadets' uniform look smarter in line with that of UK Police Cadets, Mr Lam changed the colour of the cap band from white to royal blue, starting from Intake Course No.16.

 

Mr Lam was very concerned about welfare for the cadets, especially their meals. Therefore every Wednesday he personally vetted the menu for the following week to make sure the cadets had a variety of dishes.  He also asked the duty Housemaster to dine with the cadets so as to ensure that the meals were palatable. He also toured the canteen from time to time to see whether the cadets liked their food.

 

Campus hygiene was tough job for the cadets, especially clearing the undergrowth in Dodwell's Ridge. In view of this, Mr Lam acquired two bullocks for the cadets to look after as an extra-curicular activity. This not only helped weeding, but also taught them love and care for animals. 

 

Another initiative taken by Mr Lam that was popular with the cadets was a drastic change to the policy on the Cadet Graduation Dinner. Starting from Intake Course No.17, the cadets were given a free hand to organise the graduation dinner party and bring their female partners to the party. This arrangement offered them an opportunity to brush up organisation skills and experience the normal social activities enjoyed by youths of their ages.

 

Looking back on his days in the cadet school, Mr Lam said they were full of challenges, satisfaction and joy.