Every year during the Buddha’s Birthday celebrations, the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival — a national-level intangible cultural heritage event — draws crowds of visitors to the island to witness its vibrant festivities, including the iconic floating parade and the thrilling Bun Scrambling Competition. Auxiliary Sergeant (AUX SGT) Kwan Yee-chuen, born and raised on Cheung Chau and having been in the Force for 36 years, assists in maintaining order almost every year during the festival.

Kwan aspired to become a police officer when he was young. He learned about the opportunity to receive auxiliary police training on Cheung Chau Island in an encounter with a former classmate undergoing foot drill practice. Kwan applied for auxiliary police force immediately and eventually graduated as a member of the second and also the last batch of trainees on Cheung Chau in the history of auxiliary police training.

Being a native of the island, Kwan has been working for over three decades as an auxiliary officer stationed on Cheung Chau. Kwan’s deep understanding of the local people and affairs is his “trump card” in handling daily cases. He explains, “In urban areas, cases are usually reported by strangers. On Cheung Chau, however, everyone knows one another. My basic understanding of the family situation of residents not only facilitates smooth communication but also helps me handle residents’ requests more comprehensively and efficiently.”

As both a long-time islander and the team’s “walking encyclopaedia”, Kwan shares unique insights about the Jiao Festival. For instance, rival groups vying to lead the floating parade in earlier years nearly sparked clashes in their rush to set off first. The crisis was not resolved until the festival chairman devised a solution: deciding the order through the traditional “divination toss” during which blocks were thrown for the results.

“Even up to the present, the lion dance teams will perform on the streets during the parade. When they encounter other teams, disputes can easily arise due to competition. Officers from the Police Tactical Units are therefore positioned among the teams to advise them to continue moving forward at appropriate times. Auxiliary officers will maintain order on both sides of the streets to ensure the safety of spectators at the scene.”

“On the day of the floating parade, hundreds of officers from outside the island are deployed to assist, as the event requires significant police presence. Everyone works seamlessly together, each fulfilling their role to ensure that the festivities run smoothly. Above all, we hope that visitors and travellers coming from near and far can fully enjoy Cheung Chau’s unique traditions and take home wonderful memories,” Kwan continues. Besides maintaining law and order, he and other auxiliary officers also collaborate with the Police Community Relations Offices and District Services and Community Care Teams to seize the opportunity for promoting crime prevention and anti-fraud messages.

In recent years, the Force has actively introduced technology for assistance during the Jiao Festival, such as using CCTV to grasp the real-time crowd situation. Kwan reveals, “Tasks that previously required several officers can now be efficiently handled by one or two colleagues through the system.”

As the era of smart policing approaches, Kwan hopes that more young people will join the auxiliary police. “Young people are generally familiar with the new technology, which complements the experience of the older generation. While rooted in tradition, we must also move with the times to safeguard and pass on Hong Kong’s safety and prosperity.”