They were presented with bronze award certificates by Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Tang Kam-moon, Assistant Commissioner (Support) Chiu Wai-yin, Chairman of the HKAYP Award Council, Mr Rock Chen, and Vice-chairman, Mr Allen Che, in Police Sports and Recreation Club.

 

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Tang pointed out that the HKAYP scheme had a long history of providing young people with a platform to achieve their goals, rise to challenges, broaden their horizons and serve the community.  Some of them had become leaders of the community, he noted.

 

Mr Tang also expressed gratitude to the volunteer instructors for their contributions. Most of them are serving or retired police officers.

 

Speaking on the same occasion, Mr Chen expressed his appreciation to the Force for actively participating in the HKAYP scheme in the past 40 years. Thanks to the efforts of POA staff and volunteer instructors, more and more gold, silver and bronze awardees had been groomed to serve the community, he added.

 

In the past year, POA organised over 20 training courses resulting in 11 gold, 38 silver and 239 bronze awardees.

 

The HKAYP scheme aims at building up young people's confidence and developing their potentials. Participants, who are aged between 14 and 25, will be awarded gold, silver or bronze awards after joining activities under the categories of skills, service, expedition, physical recreation and residential project.

 

The Force started organising HKAYP (formerly called Duke of Edinburgh's Award) activities in the former Police Cadet School in 1973.  Established in 1979, the Hong Kong Police Operating Authority is one of the 18 operating authorities of the scheme to coordinate the relevant activities. Police Public Relations Branch took over the programme in 2006.