Sergeant of the Miscellaneous Enquiry Sub-unit of Tuen Mun Division June won the 1st runner-up prize in the essay contest to celebrate 50th anniversary of OffBeat with her essay “Grandpa’s Portal”. The article starts with an old photo taken in 1949, when June’s grandfather Wong Chung-wai joined the Force and received training. The photo taken at the drill square of Hong Kong Police College (HKPC) opens the first chapter of his police family.

June maintains a close relationship with her 90-year old grandfather, who likes to share with her episodes of his police career during his free time. “Grandpa had stationed in Kwun Tong, worked as a crime officer for 17 years, and was an Organized Crime and Triad Bureau officer. He takes much pride in having refused all sorts of temptations in society. He often warns me not to go astray.”

The dignity of her grandfather as a law enforcement officer has planted the seed of inheritance in June’s heart. The husband of her father’s sister, who was also a member of the Force, further enhanced her interest in joining the Force. The uncle was once stationed in the Anti-Riot Squad (now known as Police Tactical Unit (PTU)), where he participated in many major cases and accumulated many extraordinary experiences. Therefore, at the age of 18, she decided to apply to join the Force immediately after finishing the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination.

Aged 38 this year, June has served in various formations, including the PTU, Quick Reaction Force, and Missing Persons Unit. She and her husband were both promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2019. She points out that the Force has been advancing along with the change of time. One place, nonetheless, has remained unchanged – HKPC at Wong Chuk Hang, the old place where officers of various ranks are nurtured.

“A number of my family members have joined the Force. We all have left our blood, sweat and tears in the drill square in HKPC. Whenever I see this photo of grandpa taken in that square more than 70 years ago, my heart is touched. It seems that there is a ‘portal’ that connects family members of different generations.” June, who loves writing, expressed her feeling through the article “Grandpa’s Portal”, which eventually got the runner-up prize in the essay competition.

June, who was born in a police family, shares that there is naturally an infectious force among the family members that passes on the spirit of upholding law and order and guarding Hong Kong. “My children are members of the Junior Police Call. My son plans to join the Force and serve the community in the future. If he is successfully enrolled, the ‘portal’ in the drill square will open a new dimension to connect members of several generations when he is trained at HKPC.”

An excerpt from “Grandpa’s Portal”:

Grandpa tells me, “Don’t forget your identity as a member of the Force. You must enforce the law, eliminate crime and protect the people!” Although we may just play a minor role, and no matter which formation we are stationed in, we should never belittle our role! It is exactly because of everyone’s effort to stay steadfastly in their posts, fulfil the responsibilities of their own, perform their supervisory duties, inherit experience and pass it on to link up every department and everyone closely, that the Force can achieve its results today!