Under Kowloon City District's SSLO Programme, three SSLOs - Sergeants Pang Yiu-hon, Chan Hau-yuk and Ella Kwok - are serving 45 secondary schools in their district.

In his letter, Vice-chairman Chan Ka-wai praised SGT Pang for the way he handled a dispute between a secondary school and its woman worker in August. The incident arose when the worker barricaded herself in a room in the school and threatened to commit suicide, after being laid off and told to vacate her quarters in the school.

In an interview with OffBeat, Mr Chan said SGT Pang had ably discharged his roles as a SSLO. "He contacted different parties, such as Social Welfare Department, District Councillors, and Housing Department to see what assistance could be given. He also contacted Fire Services Department just in case there was a need to break into the room where the worker was locking herself up."

Mr Chan commented that the SSLO Programme has fostered a closer relationship between schools and the Force, and has been providing a much needed service to schools.

"The SSLO Programme has enhanced the Force's image among schools, which now know where to turn to if they require assistance from the police!" he noted.

In the incident, SGT Pang had spent about eight hours talking to the woman worker before she finally agreed to leave the school, resolving the dispute amicably.

"I've been working with the school for three years so the worker and I know each other quite well. This was why I could approach her and talk her out of doing something foolish," he said.

The Headmistress of the school concerned has also written to compliment SGT Pang and his colleagues for helping to resolve the labour dispute.

"Their patience, alertness and skills in negotiation were very remarkable. In particular, I would like to thank SGT Pang for his outstanding performance. He and his team had shown admirable tact in keeping the situation under control!" said the Headmistress in her letter.

The third compliment letter was sent by the Principal of another secondary school in Kowloon City, paying recognition of the assistance given by another SSLO, SGT Chan, and her team in resolving problems between students of the school and other youngsters. He hoped "we can continue partnership with the police to keep our students away from crime".

Pilot Schemes

Perhaps the compliments are an incentive for the two pilot schemes recently launched by Kowloon City PCRO to provide special services to students. In the first scheme, tailor-made activities are being provided for some 30 students from two schools each, who require special attention and care.

SGT Kwok said the students had been selected by their schools to join the pilot scheme to benefit from the close attention given by SSLOs.

"We've 15 police volunteers helping us with the scheme. Each volunteer is taking care of two to three students, keeping close touch with them, finding out what they need and planning activities to meet their needs.

"We've been telling the students to steer a straight path and stay away from undesirable peer groups. We'll arrange for them to visit Kowloon City Magistrate's Courts and Pik Uk Prison so that they would realise the consequences of staying on the wrong side of the law," SGT Kwok added.

SGT Chan looks after the second pilot scheme, which was organised by the Kowloon City District Fight Crime Committee, with the assistance of the Kowloon City District Police Community Relations Office and Home Affairs Department. This is the first time that Kowloon City District SSLOs work with organisations at district level in organising programmes. Five schools are participating in the scheme under which a variety of activities are held in the schools, including exhibitions, talks and crime prevention targeting at students.

Kowloon City District Council Vice-chairman, Mr Chan Ka-wai (right) with KCDIST's three SSLOs

SGT Pang giving a school talk