Ask Senior Inspector Sean Lin of the Information Systems Wing (ISW), and he can give you a hint. Perhaps the fact that he manages all these tasks speaks for his being selected one of the "Ten Outstanding Young Persons 2006" by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Currently, Sean is the Chairperson of the Friends Unlimited, a non-government organisation providing community services, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Alumni Association, and Vice President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology MBA Alumni Association, and the list goes on.

He is by far the only member in the Force who has obtained three internationally recognised professional IT qualifications, namely, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). All are related to his current position in ISW and his previous posting in Commercial Crime Bureau's Technology Crime Division.

"For example, one of my roles in ISW is auditing information systems within the Force. CISA is exactly the professional qualification meeting the requirement for this job," he said.

At the same time, Sean also takes up secondary duty work within the Force - a mentor of the Police Mentorship Scheme to help undergraduates develop a career with the Force, founding committee member of the Police IT Society and member of Police Negotiator Cadre (PNC).

Outside the Force, he is actively involved in the alumni work of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) where he obtained his BBA and two master degrees. He is also a mentor for students of his alma mater as well as the Lingnan University.

During an interview with OffBeat, Sean spoke of how he coped with such a busy schedule without compromising his family life. "Synergy is the secret", he said. "I bring my family along as often as possible whenever I take part in a voluntary activity. It is a healthy lifestyle for them as well as for me. While designing such activities, they all contribute their ideas and such communication in turn cultivates a closer family relationship."

He pointed out that the mere presence of her little daughter livened up atmosphere and brought laughter to many voluntary functions. On the other hand, the functions broadened her horizons.

Sometimes Sean invites his undergraduate mentees home to sample his secrets for a harmonious family life.

For Sean, creativity is another recipe for time management and different jobs can be carried out simultaneously. Quoting an example of coping with two voluntary activities clashing in time, he said he combined the two voluntary teams from different organisations for each activity. "This method provided more human resources for each activity, and gave the volunteers a new experience", he noted.

"The amount of time you put in is of course important. In fact, what you need to do is to put in bit by bit only, and it will add up to a lot in the end," he added.

Sean noted that family support was crucial for his role as a PNC member. "Without the support of my family I can hardly discharge this secondary duty because I will be called out in small hours or even in public holidays sometimes."

Sean feels honoured to have won his Outstanding Young Persons award as a police officer, and regards the award as recognition of his contributions to society through voluntary work, as well as his lifelong learning. He vowed to share with his colleagues the satisfaction arising from voluntary work and lifelong learning.

Sean was nominated by another alumnus of HKUST and his two references are Professor Woo Chia-wei, founding President of HKUST, and Mrs Sophie Leung Lau Yau-fun, Patron of the Friends Unlimited and Member of the Legislative Council.

After several rounds of interviews by a judging panel chaired by Dr Alice Lam, Chairman of the University Grants Committee, Sean and another eight people were awarded the title.

SIP Lin always bears in mind the Outstanding Young Person motto