FORCE PROFILE
Sgt Chan Tak-wah and WPC Sammi Wong Yik-lam, VIP PU

LESS than three years ago Woman Police Constable Sammi Wong Yik-lam was part of a Sai Kung patrol car sub-unit, walking the beat and occasionally on loan to CID, when she answered the Headquarters Order soliciting new recruits for the VIP Protection Unit.

Now with VIP PU, she's walking to a different beat that's most recently included close personnel escort duty to the wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair during his October visit to Hong Kong, and an active role in the Unit's protection of such political luminaries as President Jiang Zemin and President Bill Clinton.

"I saw joining VIP PU as a chance to broaden my field of police experience and knowledge ¡Ð as well as a major challenge," said WPC Wong, one of four women officers in VIP PU who, among other protective security duties, are often nominated for close personnel escort duty to visiting female protectees.

Close personal escort is just one aspect of the highly specialised and unique training that VIP PU offers to its officers who, by and large, are trained in the ability to handle all situations. Indeed, a lot of the disciplines (and the high degree to which they are taught) are not readily available to officers in many other units and formations. Instruction includes tactical training, first aid, self-defence, fire fighting, specialised driving training and, of course, firearms training.

Before WPC Wong joined VIP PU she wasn't qualified to use firearms. She is now a fine markswoman and says her sense of self-confidence has developed along with her weapons training: "It was very interesting to learn how to shoot. In the beginning it was difficult for me to control the 'kick' of some of the weapons. But I gradually built up my confidence ¡Ð and physical strength. Marksmanship and skill with firearms requires a lot of time and hard work."

She continues: "The nature of VIP PU work is quite unique from other units of the Force in that we work very closely as an operational team. Whether it's on a security advance party, on residence security, motorcade movement or close personal escort, co-operation is essential. There's a definite sense of team spirit in VIP PU, and people build up close friendships. That's one of the reasons officers stay in the unit for a long time. They are challenged by the unit, they like it, and ¡Ð there is a big investment made by the unit to train us."

Like WPC Wong, Sergeant Chan Tak-wah has also experienced a growing sense of self-confidence, self-discipline, maturity and ability since joining VIP PU nine years ago ¡Ð the experience gathered has also been a significant factor to his recent promotion. He can attest that no two Internationally Protected Persons' (IPPs) visits are the same.

Sergeant Chan also joined for the challenge and, in addition to the team work aspect of the unit, enjoys dealing with people from both the private and public sectors, as well as working with colleagues from international law enforcement agencies and other disciplines.

"Although we represent the Hong Kong Police Force, in a broader sense we represent the Government, as we are in direct contact with IPPs who are essentially guests of the HKSAR," said Sergeant Chan. "They or their entourage always form their opinion on the HKP Force and evaluate its abilities based on the performance of the VIP PU. We are at the protocol front of the Force, and that makes this job extremely unique ¡Ð and demanding."

VIP PU is currently looking for unique individuals to join its ranks. The last recruitment drive saw 40 applicants from JPOs to Inspectors apply. Out of that, nine officers were selected. If you think you can measure up to the job, read HQO no.149/98v.

VIP PU members are also trained in advanced first aid techniques should the unthinkable happen to a visiting IPP

VIP PU officers practising their weapons skills at the PTS firing range