On completion of the training course, 13 officers were invited to join the PNC, bringing the total PNC membership to 80.

The selection exercise for the course was conducted in February this year, covering over 50 applicants at the ranks of Police Constable to Chief Inspector. All the applicants attended the one-day selection exercise during which their aptitude, ability to handle critical situations under pressure and stress, and their endurance were critically assessed.

The trainees also sat for a written aptitude test and were subjected to different scenarios to test their communication skills and ability to cope with difficult situations.

Superintendent (SP) Gilbert Wong, who is the Deputy Officer-in-charge of the PNC and the Course Director, told OffBeat: "In the selection process and training, we emphasise more on the personal attributes and commitments of individual officers to match the job and meet challenges because ultimately they will need to work under tremendous stress in most, if not all, critical situations."

As a result of the stringent selection, 15 officers were invited to join the course. Two officers from the Macao Judiciary Police and another two from the Correctional Services Department were also invited to attend the course.

SP Wong pointed out that the two-week intensive training course, conducted in the Police College, was the first residential course organised by the PNC. As the daily programmes commenced at 8:30 am and finished at around midnight, the residential element of the course provided extra training hours and team building opportunities for the trainees.

The course was holistically designed to combine the best practices of negotiator training overseas with local domestic and CT elements in local settings with a view to equipping course members with all-round negotiation skills.

The training team comprised Chief Inspector Kenneth Cheung, Senior Inspectors Edwin Lui, Stephen Liauw, James Yu and Woman Senior Inspector Amy Cheng.

Chief Superintendent Peter Morgan, Officer-in-charge of the PNC, said the officers selected to join the training team had received negotiation training overseas. He added that the Course Director was invited by the Scottish Police College as one of the Directing Staff of the Scottish Hostage Negotiators' Course in 2008 and a number of best training practices were incorporated into the course.

Training staff members were devoted to delivering lectures and designing practical exercises, while course trainees did their best to apply knowledge and skills in different situations. Finally, 13 police officers completed the course.

One of the course members, Police Constable (PC) Tam Chun-chung, said: "Examinations and tests made the course particularly challenging because after a day of lectures and practical exercises, we were exhausted but we still had to do revision before taking a break. Having said that, I enjoyed the course very much because I now understand myself better and I will stand in others' shoes in addressing their feelings. I am so proud of being a member of PNC."

Another course member, WPC Michelle Hui On-ying, told OffBeat that she joined the PNC simply because it is a very meaningful job to serve the community. She said the practical exercises were most challenging because she could feel how the stress of situations involving life and death would look like. She is also very impressed by the training staff's devotion to grooming the new generation of PNC and their professionalism and generosity in sharing their life experience and professional knowledge.

A graduation dinner was held to mark conclusion of the training course, with Acting Commissioner Yam Tat-wing attending as guest of honour. Also present were Assistant Commissioner (Operations) Wong Chi-hung, Chief Superintendent Ng Kam-wing and Senior Police Clinical Psychologist Eddie Li. Other guests included Associate Professor Cheng Chung Yau-ling and Mr Samson Chan from the Hong Kong University SPACE and Ms Frances Law and Dr Paul Wong from the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Hong Kong University.

Before over 80 guests and PNC members, Mr Yam presented trainer certificates to the training staff, while Mr Wong presented graduation certificates to course members.

Names and postings of the 13 new PNC members:

1. Chan Chi-wai MS DIV
2. Chan Kat-lee, Jessie EU NTN
3. Cheng Ka-wing EU KW
4. Choi Wing-yuk, Kelly PTU 'E' Coy
5. Hui On-ying, Michelle KWC DIV
6. Kong Sze-wan, Irene NTK DIV
7. Lee Hang-yee, Yuki PPRB
8. Luk Chun-chung, Joseph TSW DIV
9. Pang Wing-sum, Rebecca DATS WDIST
10. Poon Tze-on, Peter Police College
11. Tam Chun-chung EU KW
12. Wan Hin-lok EU HKI
13. Yim Wan-ha KCDIST

Acting Commissioner Yam Tat-wing receiving a PNC plaque from Chief Superintendent Peter Morgan, Officer-in-charge of PNC

Officers attending an intensive training course designed to provide them with all-round negotiation skills