Nostalgia for Cadet School good old days
The year 2013 will mark the 40th anniversary of the former Royal Hong Kong Police Cadet School. Members of the 40th Anniversary Working Committee have talked to a former staff member and a former cadet of the school: retired Chief Superintendent Douglas Tsui and Senior Superintendent (SSP) David Yip.
Mr Tsui served in the Cadet School in various capacities, including Head of Physical Studies, Head of Vocational Studies and Deputy Commandant, whilst SSP Yip was also a housemaster in the school.
Mr Tsui had assisted in establishment of the Cadet School and worked closely with the school-founder, SSP Don Bryan, for the official opening in September 1973. The school was located in Fan Gardens, an old army camp consisting of Nissen huts near Fanling. Being a new venture in Hong Kong, the school soon attracted many Royal visitors, including the Duke of Edinburgh and Honorary Commandant-General of the Royal Hong Kong Police, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra.
Mr Tsui recalled that the Cadet School aimed at catering for those youngsters who aspired to joining the disciplined services but were too young to do so, by offering them appropriate education as well as character-building, physical and vocational training so that they would be able to join the disciplined services after leaving school. Mr Tsui had been attached to the Metropolitan Police Cadet School in London to study their curriculum, which eventually served as a model for the Cadet School in Hong Kong.
The format of the Cadet School was similar to that of a normal boarding school, but with emphasis on discipline and cadets wearing uniforms. "One of the values of the Cadet School was to provide character-training in order to prepare the cadets for adult responsibilities in society," said Mr Tsui, adding that from a police point of view, the school was very successful and served its purposes.
With a childhood dream of becoming a policeman, Mr Yip was recruited as a cadet of Course No.6 in 1977. Soon he displayed his leadership qualities and was appointed dormitory prefect. After leaving school, he joined the Force as a constable. Two and a half years later, he returned to the Cadet School to take up the job of a housemaster.
Mr Yip, who is presently the most senior cadet-turned-officer serving in the Force, attributes what he has achieved today to his cadet training, which provided him with a very good foundation for his career in the Force. "The Cadet School motto, 'Intelligence, Courage, Integrity and Tenacity', still inspires me a lot these days," he noted.
SSP
Yip (fourth right) reminisces about his life at the Police Cadet School
with former cadets