Affectionately known as 'Yes, Sir' to his mates for his enthusiastic carrying out of orders, the SGT has been co-ordinating regular gatherings and reunions for fellow recruits of his DD Class (Marine), who joined the Police Training School in December 1973, and their instructors at the time.

The boys, now mostly in their mid-40s, held their latest gathering at Marine Regional Headquarters on October 17. The tea party also saw in attendance their former course director, Acting Marine Regional Commander Ng Chee-kin, and former assistant course director, retired Station Sergeant Chiu Sau-sum.

"Of the 27 of us who joined PTS in our early 20s, some have resigned or retired over the years. Of those who stayed on, nine are attached to Marine and four to various land formations," SGT Shum told OffBeat, reminiscing old times with his colleagues.

The backgrounds of the 27 recruits are diverse, ranging from seamen and bus drivers to technicians who were mostly junior secondary school graduates. They recalled Junior Police Officers received a hefty pay rise in the early 70s, with recruit PCs earning about $1,000 a month, which was quite attractive compared to the $600 to $700 average for other jobs at that time. Station Sergeant Lam Jamson, also of Marine West Division, said payday was fun as there were no auto pay services then.

"What we did was line up at a PTS office and get our pay in cash from one officer, and pay our meal and laundry expenses to other officers. We were then allowed the afternoon off to take the remainder of our salary to our families," he said, adding the situation changed when auto pay was introduced in the mid-70s. He recalled fresh recruits were known as 'piglets' who upgraded to 'middle pigs' after passing their exam two months later. They later became 'big pigs' during the final stage of their training. PTS proved a real challenge for those young men with its strenuous physical exercise and firearm, footdrill and disciplinary studies.

"Laws and regulations were possibly the most difficult subject as it took considerable time to memorise the lines. Besides that, the fortnightly exam was a nightmare as we could get kicked out if we failed for the fourth time," SSGT Lam said, adding he received the Silver Whistle by topping his class. He said the PTS facilities available then and now could not be compared.

"After a hard day's study and training, we returned to our dormitory to put layers and layers of shoe polish on a piece of canvass which was then hardened and used as protective footgear. We spent a lot of time polishing to make them shiny for the morning parade inspection," he said. "Also, there were about 1,000 trainees at PTS then, and only two public phones were available. We seldom made calls as the wait could be up to 30 minutes."

SGT Shum recalled the electricity restrictions of the time. "Our instructors would inspect our dorm to ensure all lights were off by 10 pm. With such a heavy workload, we had to study under the blanket with torches!"

These conditions helped seal a special bond between the recruits and their instructors, one that has made them lifetime friends. Their old assistant course director was the hirsute SSGT Chiu, who they dubbed 'The Hairy Guy'. Now nearing 60, he was last attached to a Tsim Sha Tsui patrol sub-unit before retiring in 1995.

"I didn't receive much teaching training before taking up the PTS post in the early 70s. But based on what I learned from my PTS days and subsequent working experience, I made up a teaching plan of my own," he said. "Shum, Lam and their peers were my first batch of students. Away from footdrill and firearms, I also looked after their everyday lives like a parent, and the first lesson they learned from me was discipline."

Although tough in the classroom and on the footdrill square, he won over his students and has remained at the top of their reunion and gatherings list.

He joined the Force in 1960, and at the height of the 67 riots he was sent to a bomb threat scene in Wan Chai. Alighting from the police vehicle, he saw a metal object rolling towards him and kicked it out of harm's way before it exploded. It turned out to be a quarrying detonator. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt and he received the Medal of Gallantry for his bravery from then Governor Sir David Trench in 1970.

SSGT Lam reflected on the changing times and attitudes.

"All these years I've been seeing new recruits with ever-higher academic qualifications joining the Force, and I find them more outspoken and willing to raise questions," he said.

"With an increasingly civic-minded community, there's unprecedented transparency in police work and demand on our quality of service. And even as experienced as we are, we also have to strive to improve ourselves to cope with this changing world."

Retired SSGT Chiu back in the good ol'days

SSGT Lam, Yes Sir and the Hairy Guy look back on their careers