To enhance the professional sensitivity of frontline officers to the needs of persons with disabilities, the Support Wing organised a seminar on accessibility for Force Access Officers with the support of the Labour and Welfare Bureau at Police Headquarters on January 25.

Chief Superintendent of Support Wing Yau Siu-kei told the audience that the Force supports the Government's policy of providing a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities, with a view to enabling them to access police premises and using police services on an equal basis. The barrier-free access improvement works at 55 police premises have already completed whilst those of other police premises are in progress. The Force will continue to enhance the accessibility of police premises.

The Support Wing invited representatives of the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired, a charitable organisation named "SILENCE" and the Hong Kong PHAB Association to speak at the seminar. In addition to sharing the skills of communicating with persons with disabilities, the representatives used special spectacles and wheelchairs to enable officers to learn about the needs of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, Assistant Divisional Officer of the Fire Services Department Mr Chiu Wing-fai explained the needs of persons with disabilities during a fire evacuation.

As the event was well received, the Support Wing would continue to run similar seminars with the aim of promoting social integration of able-bodied and persons with disabilities.