In order to help officers plan for a happy and productive retirement life, including finding a second career, the RSU has been running four pre-retirement talks (three in Chinese and one in English) each year. Each of the three-day talk consists of a total of six seminars, each covering a specific topic, including retirement benefits, health, financial planning and investment products, second career and starting business.

Invariably, outside experts are invited to talk on financial planning and second career, as well as other topics if necessary.

The pre-retirement talk and helping retired officers find a second career are the major tasks of the RSU, which is headed by Woman Senior Inspector Angela Kwok, who is assisted by an Assistant Clerical Officer.

WSIP Kwok explained, during an interview with OffBeat, why it is advisable to start planning for retirement earlier.

She referred to a recent newspaper report that according to overseas statistics, Hong Kong people have the second longest lifespan in the world, with females reaching 84 and males 78. "This means if you retire at 55 you will probably have to consider how to live the next 25 years meaningfully. So it's important to have a good plan for retirement," she noted.

WSIP Kwok pointed out that retirement is the beginning of another stage in life, which calls for early and careful planning. She explained: "It is the beginning of another job, which could take the forms of starting a new business, getting on full-time or part-time jobs, doing volunteer work or frequently travelling. As a matter of fact, these 'jobs' require early planning rather than hasty arrangements made shortly before leaving the Force."

"For financial arrangements, experts' advice is that officers should start planning at least 10 years before retirement because time is required for 'wealth creation' and 'wealth accumulation' when we are working. For most people, retirement will be time for 'wealth preservation' rather than 'wealth creation'," she noted.

Besides arranging pre-retirement talks, WSIP Kwok also helps retired officers find a second career. Among those sent to attend job interviews in 2004, one-third was offered employment.

Before sending candidates for job interviews, WSIP Kwok makes sure they are qualified to meet employers' requirements. So when a retiree approaches the RSU for assistance, she conducts an assessment interview to find out his or her academic qualifications, work experience, specialties and the types of job preferred.

If a suitable vacancy is immediately available, she will send the candidate to attend an interview with the employer; otherwise she will put the candidate on a registration list until a suitable vacancy arises.

Although WSIP Kwok has never advertised the services of her Unit and depends on word of mouth, so far security companies, property management companies, hotels, banks, schools and even other departments, such as Housing, Labour, Education and Health, have made use of the Unit's services to recruit staff. She treasures every job opportunity for retired officers and welcomes all employers to approach her for their staff recruitments.

Even individual members of the public have also approached WSIP Kwok for recruiting staff.

"I've come across a case in which a lady reported to the police that her chauffeur had disappeared with her car. She was anxious to find a more trustworthy chauffeur, and later asked me to find one for her," she recalled.

She has put a list of job vacancies on the Noticeboard on POINT as well as at POC and PSRC. The list is updated every two weeks.

Over the years, many retirees have secured their second careers through the RSU. A good example is retired Station Sergeant Lawrence Chan, who has been working as the security manager for a big private housing estate in Kowloon since October last year, shortly after his early retirement.

The 230 building blocks, 13,111 households and over 4,000 parking spaces in the housing estate speak volumes for Mr Chan's responsibilities and workload. For this "very rewarding and challenging" job, Mr Chan is very grateful to the RSU.

He approached the RSU for assistance after finding retirement life "very boring and mundane". To those considering a second career after retirement, he offered this advice: "Have a medical check up first to make sure you're physically fit for another job, decide what to do and then prepare for the interview."

Additional qualifications would also help in a knowledge-based society, Mr Chan said: "Before taking up my new job, I had completed a certificate course on property management with the Hong Kong Management Association. The course has proved very useful," he noted.

WSIP Kwok concurred with Mr Chan in making a good preparation for job interviews.

"Find out the techniques of attending an interview, and find out what you're expected to do in the job you're applying for, and what the company does. On the day of the interview, dress up properly and present yourself with confidence. These will help project a good image of police officers," she advised job seekers.

The next pre-retirement talk is scheduled for August 31 and September 1 and 2. It is not limited to officers about to retire - all serving officers are also welcome.

First-time attendance will be counted as duty commitment, but subsequent attendances will be at officers' own time.

Both WSIP Kwok and retired SSGT Lawrence Chan advise retirees to project a good image of the police while attending job interviews