Did you come across someone who handed you a cup of heartwarming hot tea or showed you how to twist a balloon for your kids during Operation TIDERIDER? It’s a team of volunteers comprising warm-hearted off-duty, retired colleagues as well as their families and friends. Under the coordination of the Personnel Wing, the volunteers set up a tea kiosk at the Police Sports and Recreation Club (PSRC) between November 2019 and October 2020 to show their support for frontline officers.

Bianca and Fei-fei are neither police officers nor their family members. They are just citizens who merely wish to do something to support the Hong Kong Police. Under the arrangement of retired Senior Superintendent Cheng See-hing, they helped brew Chinese tea at the tea kiosk and listened to the ups and downs of frontline officers. Bianca helped at the tea kiosk after work almost every day. She was impressed by the perseverance of the Police after the prolonged contact with frontline officers. What touched her the most was that she often saw weary or even sick officers standing fast at their posts to protect the safety of their colleagues, family members and the public. She has been sharing her experience with her friends to let them know the other side of the Police.

Fei-fei has handmade over 4 000 encouragement cards for frontline officers so far. With her skilful hands, she made an art piece using 1 500 bottle caps recycled by frontline officers to cheer on the Police and taught officers to twist balloons. Her most unforgettable moment was that a father managed to make a twisted balloon but was unable to give it to his child right away that he sent a video clip to his child through his mobile phone. The cheerful smile on the father’s face motivated Fei-fei to continue with the volunteer work to support the Police.

The volunteers would be contented if you can still remember their efforts and support for the Hong Kong Police when you walk past the basketball court of the PSRC again.