22-year-old Marcus is a year 3 undergraduate of the nursing department of a university, as well as a Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force (HKAPF) officer. His evenly built figure gives him an eye-catching healthy image. His weight at 96 kg, however, almost ruined his hope to join the Police Force.

“My ambition was established since I was a child. When I was doing role-playing in kindergarten, I chose to be a police officer, as I found them very imposing,” said Marcus. An experience of his in primary school further fortified his good feeling about police work. “Separated from Dad in a shopping mall, I was frightened and kept crying. Fortunately, a patrolling police officer comforted me. He stabilised my mood and helped me recall Dad’s phone number, with which Dad was informed to come and take me back. Since then, I understand that policing work is meaningful as it helps citizens in need.”

Marcus changed school when he was in primary three. He used to be a member of the former school’s swimming team but his body boomed and he was called “Fat-cus” as he did not exercise regularly anymore in the new school. “The Japanese beef-with-rice set was my favourite. I might eat two sets for lunch, another one for afternoon tea and yet another one for dinner.” When preparing for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination, he would buy 36 pieces of chicken nuggets from a fast-food chain store for his devour while studying.

Marcus was studying at the nursing department of a university in 2019 when riots were rampant. He often encountered rioters blocking the roads and damaging MTR stations. Once, he witnessed an anti-riot police officer being abused and attacked by protesters. He wanted very much to fight side by side with the officers. His childhood desire to join the Force was recalled. Having heard about the Auxiliary Undergraduate Scheme, Marcus planned to join it. However, he had to lose weight before he could be admitted. “I insisted on swimming for an hour and a half every day since late 2019. If the swimming pool was closed, I would go running instead. I also controlled my diet strictly, including less starch intake.”

Marcus did not fight alone. He organised a group of friends who were interested in joining HKAPF and they did physical exercises together. His weight dropped from the peak of 96 kg to 63 kg. In late 2020, he was admitted to join HKAPF and took the basic training course the following year while doing an internship in a hospital. He passed out in October of the same year and was assigned to the Patrol Sub-unit of Wong Tai Sin District.

Regardless of his position as a nurse or an HKAPF officer, Marcus is committed to providing emergent aid, during which many interesting incidents emerged. “The fifth wave of the epidemic broke out early this year when I worked at the Wong Tai Sin Community Testing Centre as a nursing student. After getting off work one day, I was on duty at the same centre as an HKAPF officer, handling a ‘Request for Police Assistance’ case. Most staff looked at me curiously and asked, ‘Why is it you again?’”

In June this year, Marcus participated in the production of publicity materials for HKAPF and served as an ambassador for auxiliary recruitment and publicity campaign, hoping to encourage undergraduates to apply for the Force with his own experience. He finds the work of HKAPF very meaningful and calls on people with lofty ideals to join him. He will consider seriously applying to become a police inspector.