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Due to the need for infection control against COVID-19, the Government designated a “restricted area” in Jordan between January 23 and 25. People within the area were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the arrangement by the Government.
During the operation, 10 non-ethnic Chinese (NEC) police officers, including one inspector, six police constables and three auxiliary officers, liaised with NEC residents in the “restricted area” who struggled to understand the arrangement on the “restriction-testing declaration” because of language barrier. By communicating in their shared language, the NEC officers gained the trust from the residents and eased their worries.
Ifzal Zaffar, a police constable of Pakistani descent, was stationed at Woosung Street during the operation. Many NEC residents, who are security guards, only realised that they must stay in their premises when they planned to go to work. They enquired about the arrangement anxiously as they were worried that they would be considered absent from work. Therefore, Ifzal Zaffar patiently called their employers and explained the situation, which relieved their anxiety. He was delighted to have participated in such an important operation to help the NEC residents with his native language.
Police constable Abbas, who is of Pakistani and Indonesian descent, was responsible for manning the entrance and exit of the “restricted area” during the operation. Some NEC residents who work as security guards discovered that their residence was designated as a closed area when they returned home after their overnight shift. Abbas turned into an “interpreter” to explain the restrictions and the compulsory testing arrangement to the residents in their shared language.
The two NEC officers were born and raised in Hong Kong. They were glad that they could play such an enormous role to assist the NEC residents in the “restricted area” by speaking their native language. In the past, they received wholehearted assistance from citizens of Hong Kong, which eventually integrated them into society. As NEC officers, they will stand fast at their posts to serve the public and stay united with Hong Kong citizens to fight against the pandemic.
