After having actively promoted a healthy lifestyle for the past 10 years, the Force is making a renewed effort to encourage all officers to stay physically fit at all times. To underline its commitment to officers' physical fitness, the Force has even written physical health into the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for 2005-2008.

During an interview with OffBeat, Assistant Commissioner (Personnel) Xavier Tang Kam-moon pointed out that the Force is working towards the goal of cultivating a culture of physical health among all officers.

Elaborating on this initiative, he said: "We have been actively promoting a healthy lifestyle for about 10 years since 1996, and we are satisfied that officers are aware of, and recognise, this important issue. But we believe that now is the suitable time to push the promotion to a higher level.

"That physical health has now been designated a SAP project shows that the Force is keen to see every officer is physically and mentally fit to face the challenges and increasing demands of their jobs. Good physical health enhances officers' resilience, and promotion of physical health will also help achieve the overall goal of promoting the Force Values and professional standards."

Mr Tang was quick to point out that the promotion of physical health was by no means a one-off effort. "Rather it will be a long-term commitment and sustainability is very important. It has been included in the SAP so that more focused action and motivation could be provided during the three years to achieve a higher goal," he stressed.

"The Force hopes that ultimately every member of the Force would take up a certain sport as a healthy pursuit!" he noted.

To achieve this "one officer one sport" goal, Mr Tang said the Personnel Services and Staff Relations (PS&SR) Branch had come up with a slogan: "Stay with Sport, Joy in All!"

This message will also be hammered home to officers' families.

Explained Mr Tang: "Besides individual officers, their families are also a target of promotional activities because family support and involvement are very important for achieving good physical health and a healthy lifestyle."

Mr Tang went on to say that the 31 sports clubs under the Police Sports Council and the 13 arts clubs under the Police Arts Council would go a long way towards helping promote physical health by recruiting more members and offering related activities.

"The sports clubs can help an officer take up a sport to improve his physical fitness and health, while the arts clubs can develop his artistic talents and interests. All the clubs' promotion activities will also be available to officers' families so as to achieve a complementary effect and sustainability," he noted.

Finally, Mr Tang emphasised that sports not only can help officers improve physical fitness, but also relieve the stress from their work pressure, and build up their resilience.

Promotion to start with a bang

PS&SR Chief Superintendent, Mrs Ng Tsui Fung-ying, told OffBeat that the promotion of physical health would be launched with a bang at Police Sports and Recreation Club (PSRC) on April 9. The ceremony will coincide with celebrations of the 20th anniversary of PSRC and Police Officers' Club (POC).

To affirm emphasis on officers' physical well being, Commissioner Lee Ming-kwai, along with other top brass and representatives from sports and arts clubs, as well as staff associations, will make a pledge for promoting physical health within the Force.

To tie in with the promotion, Mr Tang, in his capacity as Chairman of the Police Social Amenities Council (SAC), will announce the decision of the SAC that the indoor areas of PSRC, POC, Tai Mei Tuk Activity Training Centre and Tso Wo Hang Recreation Centre will be designated "No-smoking areas" with effect from April 9.

To enlighten officers and their families on the harm of smoking, the Tobacco Control Office of the Department of Health will hold educational talks and forums in PSRC.

Mrs Ng said a variety of sporting and arts activities jointly organised by PS&SR Branch, Police Sports Council and Police Arts Council would start before the launching ceremony, with most targeting officers' families.

That practically every venue within PSRC, such as the Indoor Sports Hall, tennis and squash courts, bowling alley, soccer, rugby and lawn bowl pitches, indoor running track, indoor firing range and swimming pool, etc. will be used, speaks for the diverse natures of the activities.

The sports and arts clubs will also set up booths to promote a healthy lifestyle and recruit members on the spot.

To lend their support to this major promotion, the top brass will form two teams to compete in a 2.4-km run and 2-km indoor rowing.

The day will culminate with a "Cultural Evening" to be held in the Indoor Sports Hall. In addition to a buffet, attendants will be treated to a variety show with a lion dance, Wushu demonstration, magic show, police pop music, and performances by the Police Band, Police Choir, Children's Choir and JPOA Harmonica.

In conclusion, Mrs Ng reminded officers that good physical health could be achieved through taking up regular sports and physical exercises, healthy habits, healthy diet and sufficient nutrition.

"Physical health can help prevent illness and premature aging!" she noted.