You can afford to take life easy, indulge your hobbies, and perhaps do a bit of volunteer work with a non-government organisation. If that doesn't appeal to you, and you want to avoid vegetating, you can take an interesting part-time job. One way or the other, life offers you a most acceptable range of options.

But what if you married later than usual, have children still at school, or a mortgage to pay? You need another job. But there is a limit to the number of jobs for which your skills and qualifications are directly relevant and, even where there is legislation against 'ageism' in recruitment, you are between 45 and 55 years old and there are plenty of school leavers competing for the unskilled work.

That is where the Hong Kong Police Personnel Services Branch comes to the rescue.

Woman Chief Inspector Ms Betty Chan told OffBeat that junior police officers (JPOs) faced a more difficult time than the inspectorate and above when it came to post-retirement employment. "But," she added, "both categories are now adversely affected by the current economic recession and the resultant high unemployment rate."

Ms Chan explained that JPOs under the old pension scheme retire at 45 and those under the new retirement scheme at 50 to 55. She and her sergeant run at least four three-day resettlement courses each year. She also arranges for the inspectorate and above to attend a five-day seminar organised by Drake Beam & Morrin (HK). Probably the most important function of her office, however, is the job placement service.

"The courses for JPOs," explained Ms Chan, "are free of charge and carried out in duty time for up to 60 officers per course. For the inspectorate and above there is a course fee of $2,000 but that, too, takes place in duty time.

"Our all-important job placement service is completely free of charge and is open to all officers of all ranks serving or retired."

Ms Chan explained that in the past her main objective had been to get inspectorate retirees into private security management posts because they would, thereafter, be a source of employment for retiring JPOs. Hotels, institutions, large estate management companies, and private security companies, etc, were eager to obtain their services. "In recent years, however, there have been changes that adversely affect employment opportunities," she added.

"Whereas in the past most hotels had their own in-house security teams, they now outsource to private security companies. These companies have a limited number of vacancies at management level and a limited number of vacancies at JPO level. They tend to prefer hiring half-a-dozen relatively inexpensive school leavers to every mature 'supervisory' ex-policeman. This is true even of security firms offering an armed bank guard service or armed cash-in-transit service.

"Other traditional employment opportunities for JPOs included chauffeurs (for companies and individuals), confidential messengers (law firms), investigators (detective agencies, intellectual property rights protectors), doormen (clubs, bars, restaurants), bodyguards (celebrities, very wealthy people, etc) and some government organisations (eg Education Branch, and Lands Agency). The latter are usually part-time jobs, so it does not involve a suspension of pension rights," said Ms Chan.

JPOs under the old pension scheme could elect to commute up to 25% of their pension and under the new scheme up to 50%. Drawing a lump sum payment immediately on retirement, of course, reduces the monthly pension. "I do not recommend commutation except for amortisation of a mortgage," said Ms Chan. There have been so many examples of JPOs investing in businesses that go under taking their investment with them."

OffBeat asked if it was more difficult to help JPOs who retired early on medical grounds. "Of course, we will give every assistance wherever we can," she said.

Ms Betty Chan has just retired. Her replacement is Woman Senior Inspector Ms Angela Kwok who will be assisted by Assistant Clerical Officer Ms Denise Lee. They may be contacted on 2804-1105 and 2804-1127, respectively.

CIP Ms Betty Chan (right) retires -- SIP Ms Angela Kwok takes the helm