PI Wu Wing-cheong realises his dreams
When OffBeat approached Station Sergeant (SSGT) Wu Wing-cheong to arrange an interview, he was the Commanding Officer of the Support Sub-unit of Airport District. Two days later, he told OffBeat he was heading for Police College to take a training course for inspector on March 19. While congratulating Probationary Inspector (PI) Wu on his promotion, OffBeat appreciates that officers would be rewarded for the efforts they have made.
Dreams come true
After completing Form 5, PI Wu followed in his father's footstep as a police officer in April 1986. This was his lifetime dream, and so was his pursuit of a university degree. Whilst getting the job done, he planned how to realise his second dream.
In 1998, he enrolled for a diploma course in Criminal Justice of the Hong Kong University School of Professional and Continuing Education. Later he obtained a Diploma in Management of the Baptist University, laying a good foundation for pursuing a Master Degree. In 2007, with his superior's recommendation plus years of work experience, he enrolled for a Master Degree course in Criminology of the University of Hong Kong.
For this two-year course, PI Wu made his way to the university from the Hong Kong International Airport in two evenings per week. The trip was pretty long and his working hours were irregular. For his studies and examinations, he joined a study group; browsed a lot of books in library and spent a lot of time gathering information. He confided that these were pretty tough for him, but he persevered in his studies in order to realise his dream.
"Time management is very important," PI Wu stressed. With his training in the Force, he managed in that aspect.
Encouragement by superiors
PI Wu opted for criminology in order to meet the needs of his job. He pointed out: "If we understand the causation of crimes, we will be in a better position to prevent crimes. According to crime theories, reducing crimes depends on eliminating the chances of committing crimes."
PI Wu applied the theories at the workplace. There is a lot of undergrowth in Tung Chung, providing good hiding places for thieves setting their sight on the metal items on worksites. Under the guidance of their superiors, he and his colleagues identified the black spots of theft and cleared some trees to expose the hiding places. This strategy worked in preventing theft of metal items.
Thanking his superior for supporting his studies, PI Wu said the superior had told him: "Officers have to equip themselves and this would prove useful some days." He would seek advice from the superiors when he came across problems in his studies, and the superiors would analyse the problems with him and give valuable advice.
In classroom, PI Wu came across officers from other disciplined services, social workers and teachers, getting a good opportunity to share the knowledge of lessons with them. He also benefited from the officers' views on criminology and crime prevention as well as the views of social workers and teachers on counselling services and crimes on school campuses.
Family support
PI Wu has two daughters, aged 10 and 14, when he enrolled for the Master Degree course. His efforts in studies showed the girls that lifelong learning would enrich their lives. With the arrangements made by his wife, he concentrated on his studies, without worrying the daily chores in his family.
Impressing overseas visitors
PI Wu has also studied Putonghua, Japanese and French. "Whilst working at the airport, I came across visitors of different nationalities every day. If I could speak some of their languages, I can communicate with them better and make them feel at home," he noted. To better serve visitors from the Mainland, he hopes to take more courses to brush up his Putonghua.
He encourages his colleagues to pursue lifelong learning in that it would not only enhance one's quality, but also ensure better services for the community.
PI
Wu
reaches
an important milestone of his career development