Officers' roles in Hong Kong Sevens
Every year during the last weekend in March the eyes of the sporting world turn to Hong Kong when it hosts the legendary Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament. This year, 40 000 spectators packing the Hong Kong Stadium and millions of TV viewers worldwide enjoyed three days of great entertainment from March 25 to 27.
More police manpower was deployed to maintain law and order both inside and outside the stadium. While Wanchai District and Happy Valley Division looked after the main task, two Police Tactical Unit companies as well as auxiliary police officers from the District and Division also played an important role. In addition, officers from Traffic Hong Kong Island and Wanchai District ensured that traffic outside the stadium and in the nearby areas moved smoothly.
Police dogs also pitched in for security at the stadium. The Special Action Squad (SAS), of course, deserves a special mention. The 93 officers forming this "invisible army" came from different units and offered a valuable assistance as volunteers. During the three-day tournament, the SAS members, dressed in plain clothes, mingled with the crowds at the stadium and quietly carried out their mission of maintaining order and public safety, keeping a low profile of their job in order not to spoil the moods of the rugby fans.
Hong Kong Sevens has become not only a major sporting event, but also an annual international carnival. This year the stadium was packed to capacity and reverberated with thunderous applaud and cheering. Outside the stadium, a festive atmosphere prevailed with large crowds moving around, especially the entertainment areas in Wanchai. All these required extra policing for Wanchai District to ensure that the revellers and locals would have an enjoyable and peaceful time.
HK Team well prepared
Police Constable (PC) Tsang Hing-hung was a key member of the Hong Kong Team playing in this year's Hong Kong Sevens. He was part of the side that won silver medals at both the 2009 East Asian Games and last year's Asian Games, and also won the Shield at last year's Hong Kong Sevens.
During an interview with OffBeat, PC Tsang said the Hong Kong Team was well prepared, both physically and mentally, for the tournament. Being a senior member of the team, he admitted having more stress for this year's tournament, but the team had won the support and encouragement of both local and overseas fans. He took the opportunity to extend special thanks to his teammates, family, colleagues on duty at the stadium and superiors for their great support for his participation in the tournament.
In conclusion, PC Tsang called on Force members to join the Police Rugby Club, adding that the Force would field a rugby team for the World Police and Fire Games scheduled to be held in New York later this year.
Officers'
other roles in rugby arena
What other major roles have Force members played in the famous Hong Kong Sevens?
Right at the centre of it all, perched in the Tournament Control Box was Superintendent Rod Mason, Sevens Tournament Operations Manager. Rod has been calling the shots at the Sevens for six years now, and his "A" team of announcers and DJs over the years has included former police officer Dave Williams, Chief Inspector Simon Southgate, as well as his trusty assistant Brian Yung. Rod's predecessor in control was another former police officer, Peter Burbidge-King, who as a Vice President of the Hong Kong Rugby Union, watched the action this year along with fellow Vice President and Assistant Commissioner (Information Systems), Peter Else.
Peter was heavily involved in organising the Hong Kong Sevens during his tenure as Union Secretary, and building the event into the great success it is today. He currently holds the position of Police Rugby Club Chairman. In his youth Peter was a regular member of the Hong Kong Team, as was Chief Inspector Dave Lewis.
In fact Dave is the most capped Hong Kong international ever, having played for the team on 55 occasions. Dave is still playing regularly for the Police rugby team, and is currently posted to the Police College where he works alongside Chief Inspector Tobi Lothian.
Tobi, upon retiring from playing rugby 10 years ago, took up refereeing and has since become one of Asia's top international match officials. This year he was one of the selected Assistant Referees. In this role, he may well have come across foul play resulting in a player being red carded and sent off, at which point his case would be handled by Judicial Coordinator Sergeant Louie Tam.
Louie has assisted at the Hong Kong Sevens for many years, and is a well-known veteran in the Hong Kong rugby scene. Louie still plays regularly, and on January 2 he was selected for the Disciplined Services team in a match against the People's Liberation Army, lining up alongside PC Tsang.
Other serving officers having played for Hong Kong in the Sevens include James Walker and Ian Strange. Ian still holds the record for the most appearances by a Hong Kong player at the Sevens.
Robbie McRobbie left the Force in 2003 to join the Hong Kong Rugby Union, where in his position as Head of Community Rugby he spends a lot of time developing sports programmes for local schools, such as the "Don't Drop the Ball" joint initiative with New Territories North Crime Prevention.
 PC Tsang in action |
 PC Tsang tackles a Wales player |
 Members of the Special Action Squad adopt
a low profile for their mission |
 Officers are deployed at every strategic
location of the stadium |
 Police Tactical Unit and Auxiliary Police
officers maintaining public order in the entertainment area in Wanchai |