While the project was running smoothly, I noticed there were a lot of officers who were enthusiastic and willing to spare their free time for a good cause. With the assistance of Station Sergeant Wong Chi-kong (now working in Traffic Kowloon East) and Sergeant Lau Tat-ming (now working in my Division), we successfully established the Rainbow Volunteer Group with officers from Police Headquarters units and six Regions. That was how the "Rainbow" came into being. Later, we joined the Police Volunteer Group in 2004. Currently "Rainbow" has around 170 officers as members, probably the largest volunteer team in the Force.

In the past few years, we served the poor, problematic youths and families, working closely with the non-government organisations in Hong Kong. I was impressed with officers' dedication to volunteer work. Together with their families, they have made a lot of contribution, derived a great sense of satisfaction and fostered esprit de corps whilst helping the people in need.

Winning the "Outstanding" honour in the "Hong Kong Volunteer Award 2009" is a "booster" for me, but this is by no means my reason for joining volunteer work. As what I was thinking during my exhausting, lonely charity run in Namibia last year, covering 250 km in seven days, life is so diminutive in the universe and it would be memorable only if it could be spent in a meaningful way. I hope every member of the Force would join us in our volunteer work.

Larry Chan, Rainbow Volunteer Group

Editor

Larry in the "exhausting, lonely" charity run in Namibia