After a yearlong preparation, "The Lawn Bowls Friendly Match, Hong Kong versus Australia" made its debut at the Police Officers Club between June 16 and 20.

This friendly match was the sequel to the meeting on the greens between the Australian Police Lawn Bowls Team and the Hong Kong Police Lawn Bowls Club (HKPLBC) Team at the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) held in Adelaide, South Australia, last year.

After the WPFG, friendship and contact between the bowlers of the Australian Police and the HKPLBC developed quickly, with the former soon expressing an interest in friendly matches with Force bowlers in Hong Kong.

The 81-member Australian Police Bowlers Team was formed under a steering committee coordinated by Jim Cranna, John Minagall and Danny Fitzgerald. Jim and John, acting as an advance party, came to Hong Kong few days earlier to pave the way for their team's visit.

A working committee of the HKPLBC looked after organisation of matches, logistics and selection of 40 players for the friendly matches.

The HKPBLC was delighted to have Hong Kong Police Sports Council Chairman Cheung Siu-wah, Vice-Chairman Lo Wai-chung and Complaints and Internal Investigations Branch Chief Superintendent Fan Sik-ming officiating at the opening and closing of the tournament.

The Australian Police bowlers' visit marks a new milestone of the friendship and co-operation between the Australian Police and the Force.

The friendly competition concludes successfully on June 20