In performing various important roles in the Olympic Torch Relay on May 2, about 70 members of the Force Escort Group (FEG) faced up to the biggest challenge FEG has ever met. With meticulous planning, preparation and coordination with other stakeholders in the relay, the officers took on the challenge in their strides.

More importantly, the Torch Relay has given FEG members a very unique experience their routine operations have never offered. And the experience is expected to remain with them for a very long time to come.

What FEG members did during the Torch Relay was vastly different from what they have been doing: assisting the VIP Protection Unit, ensuring the safe and punctual arrival of VIP motorcades and providing escort duties as directed by Assistant Commissioner (Operations). And hitherto, FEG has never had to liaise and coordinate with so many other stakeholders for a single operation, including the Home Affairs Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Transport Department, the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (SFOC) of Hong Kong, China, and the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

According to Senior Inspector Chik Ming-yam from FEG, who assisted FEG's Officer-in-Charge, Superintendent Chau Tai-tak, on the ground during the Torch Relay, the relay differed from FEG's previous operations in terms of the extent of planning and preparation, coordination with other key players, complexity of job natures and duration of the relay. Because of these special features, FEG had to make an early start in planning and preparation.

Preparation work mainly took the forms of training for FEG members, meetings and coordination with other key players in the Torch Relay and contribution to designing the route of the relay. In assisting the SFOC in the design job, FEG contributed input on security of the route and impact on traffic.

During the preparatory stage, SP Chau and SIP Chik attended a lot of meetings with the other key players. "As the date of the Torch Relay drew closer, there were more meetings and the meetings lasted longer. One day in April, we had as many as four meetings from morning to evening," said SIP Chik.

In the same month, FEG members attended a nighttime trial and a real time trial in a bid to eliminate any hiccups that might occur during the Torch Relay.

SIP Chik pointed out that as soon as the Olympic Flame arrived in Hong Kong on April 30, FEG members swung into action, escorting the Flame from the airport to a Flame Receiving Ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

On the following day, operational details were further fine-tuned where necessary, and on the day of the Torch Relay, about 70 FEG members were mobilised to play different roles on the ground and at the Command and Control Centre at Police Headquarters.

Among other duties, those on the ground escorted the torchbearers on each leg of the route, ensured uninterrupted passages for the torchbearers and security runners on "motorcycle solos" in the "security envelope" of the relay.

By the time the Flame departed by air for Macao about 9 pm that day, the FEG members had worked continuously for more than 15 hours. But their hard work was worthwhile because, in the words of SIP Chik, the Torch Relay had given them a "very special experience" and posed a "tremendous challenge".

SIP Chik's observation about FEG's roles in the Torch Relay, as well as those of his two fellow FEG members, Sergeant Au Yeung Chung-ching and Police Constable Fan Tai-foon, might sum up the feelings of the other FEG members.

SIP Chik said it was an honour for him to take part in the Torch Relay "because the relay is a once-in-a-lifetime event".

"The Torch Relay was very successful and won wide acclaim, including that by the Mainland. Although we had sweated it during the process, the outcome turned out to be so good that it is an honour not only for us but also for the Force as a whole," said SGT Au Yeung.

"The Torch Relay was different from our job of escorting VIPs, politicians, or national treasures. The relay is the first of its kind I've ever participated in, offering me a lot of novelty and excitement, as well as a very special experience. Thanks to the management's guidance and support, the relay was very successful and I feel very honoured to have taken part in this important event," said PC Fan.

SIP Chik (right) and SGT Au Yeung are proud to have taken part in the Torch Relay

FEG members are well trained for any major challenge

FEG members ensuring an uninterrupted passage in Sha Tin

FEG members are everywhere during the Torch Relay, including the Tsing Ma Bridge

FEG members also act as "sweepers" throughout the route of the Torch Relay

FEG members escorting security runners in "motorcycle solos" in Wan Chai