Acting Sergeant Au Kwok-shing from Kwai Chung Division (KWCDIV) was recently awarded the Force Colours for Wu Shu. He looks so fit and robust that one would hardly imagine that he has been classified as a Health Impaired Officer (HIO). Apart from performing indoor and limited outdoor duties under supervision and not being able to carry a firearm because of his HIO status, he is a completely normal police officer.

The fact that he has been given an acting appointment speaks volumes for the fact that HIOs are not considered as outcasts within the Force. With the support and encouragement of his superiors and colleagues, plus his own determination and will power, he has managed to reduce the trauma caused by his condition.

Acting SGT Au was dealt a big blow when he was struck by a bout of epilepsy while at work at Emergency Unit New Territories South (EU NTS) in 1996 and was subsequently indexed as an HIO. "It was so painful for me because I could not work as a normal police officer, something which I love," he said when he recalled the stress he had gone through.

To his pleasant surprise, support and encouragement even 10 years ago by his superiors and colleagues at EU NTS were never far away and he was given a support role. He said he acquired additional expertise from the tasks assigned to him and at the same time managed to update himself on the situation on the frontline. "I enjoyed providing support services for my colleagues and often shared my experience during training days," he noted.

KWCDIV equally supportive

"Shing Shing", as Acting SGT Au is affectionately known, was posted to KWCDIV in 2003. He confided that at the beginning the transfer did bring him some concerns. He recalled his mood at the time: "I was a bit worried about working in a new environment with new superiors and colleagues."

However, what happened to him afterwards showed that his worries were unwarranted, and that the management and staff of KWCDIV were as supportive to him as those of EU NTS.

"I enjoyed the tasks assigned to me. I'm lucky that the management has faith in my ability and given me a lot of opportunities. All these have helped me pick up my confidence. I'm very grateful to the management for giving me an opportunity to act at a higher rank in the Administration Support Sub-unit. The acting appointment is really a big test and challenge for me."

Acting SGT Au said he was particularly grateful to former Kwai Tsing District Deputy Commander Andrew Lovatt, and Kwai Chung Divisional Commander Bruce Hawkins, for showing a genuine interest in his case and well-being.

"Mr Lovatt even took time to see me prior to his transfer. Mr Hawkins has been very positive in trying to get me back to as normal a career as possible and has planned that I gradually re-integrate into daily station life. He has given me the opportunity to work outside under supervision and even had me posted as an orderly during a number of public order events. My Support Sgt role is very demanding given the size of the division. I've found a new direction and know where I stand. I'm very happy in my division and have a lot of job satisfaction, " he added.

Support extends to Kung Fu pursuits

He pointed out that his division's support for him was not confined to work as the management also helped with his participation in Chinese martial art competitions in the US and on the Mainland in 2004. Coming from a family with a Kung Fu tradition and starting coaching in Kung Fu at the age of 13, he grabbed a bronze medal in the US and two silver medals on the Mainland.

In the same year, he was also given leave to go to Hubei Province with the Force's Wushu Club to provide coaching in lion dance. During the trip, a municipal government appointed him as a recognised lion dance instructor.

Acting SGT Au pointed out that the Wushu Club also rallies behind HIOs. "The club supports me by putting me in charge of a lion dance team. From time to time, it runs training courses for HIOs to improve their physical fitness. I'm very grateful to the club chairman, Mr Choy Kin-cheung, and vice chairman, Mr Shum Kam-tim, for their support and encouragement.

"I'm very happy in my division and have a lot of job satisfaction. I hope some day I can get rid of my HIO label, but I realise this is something out of the management's control. Epilepsy is considered a lifetime ailment although I have had no further attacks since 1996 and have not taken any medicine since then. Maybe one day I can convince the doctors to let me get back to a normal life," said Acting SGT Au in wrapping up his interview with OffBeat.

Commenting on Acting SGT Au's case, Kwai Chung Divisional Commander Bruce Hawkins said: "He has never milked his status as an HIO and all he wants to do is get back to normal police duties which he truly enjoys. He has been attack free for more than ten years and has been placed in both physically and mentally demanding posts over the years with no adverse effects. The fact that he can function in a physically demanding doctrine like Wu Shu and excel, would tend to indicate that his problems are a thing of the past. I do hope that he can one day get back to regular duties and I will do all I can to assist him in reaching this goal."

Acting Sergeant Au Kwok-shing (second right) is grateful to Police Wushu Club members' support and encouragement, including club chairman Choy Kin-cheung (centre).