Lee Kit-wai (Chris), a 33-year-old inspector stationed in Patrol Sub-unit of Cheung Sha Wan District, has had an uneven career path in the Force. Having joined the Police Mentorship Programme to experience the work of the Force and found that policing duties were diversified and beneficial to community, he decided to apply for probationary inspector (PI) upon his graduation from university in 2013.

“There are two parts in the extended interview process for PI: Part 1 being impromptu talk and group discussion; Part 2 being management exercise and leadership exercise. In my first attempt, I passed Part 1 but failed in Part 2 as I was too nervous. Hence I could not join the Force then.” Chris tried several jobs after graduation but he never gave up the hope to join the Force despite repeated failure in PI applications. “In retrospect, my full-time jobs prevented me from preparing for the interview with full attention and affected my performance in the interview.”

Chris decided in 2016 to apply for police constable (PC) first and try PI after accumulating experience in the Force. He succeeded and took the foundation training course for PC. He found that many classmates had a university degree and decided to start from the basic level as he did, and were waiting for the opportunity to realise their dreams. With a clear goal in mind, Chris worked hard to accumulate experience in different positions after passing out from the Police College.

“I was once posted to the report room of Kwun Tong Police Station. As most cases are triaged in the report room, front-desk staff can communicate directly with the public while backstage officers are responsible for guarding suspects and other duties. Subsequently, I joined the Special Duties Squad of Kwun Tong District, where I was benefited a lot from intelligence collection in advance, personnel assignment and follow-up with legal procedures.” Chris was also assigned to the District Investigation Team (DIT) of Sau Mau Ping District to handle a wider range of cases. “The work of DIT is extremely challenging. In spite of the long working hours, it has deepened my understanding of case investigation and legal procedures.” Having gained work experience and built his confidence in different positions in the Force, he successfully entered the final interview last year when he applied again for PI.

“Compared with attending refresher classes, the experience and related training accumulated from being PC can improve one’s personal leadership skills, which will facilitate interviews. When I attended the final interview, I was asked how to handle cases. My answer was based on my working experience as PC, as well as referring to my superiors’ practice.” Chris finally passed the final interview and became PI successfully.

After completing the foundation training course for PI, Chris was posted to Recruitment Division as a “role model police officer” to tell his own story to applicants who had failed in the extended interview for PI. Based on his own experience, he analysed the advantages of joining the Force as PC to develop his career. “I will encourage applicants to start as PC. As long as they have the ability, confidence and aspiration, they will surely be able to realise their ideals.”

“I suggest that applicants should not mind starting as PC because the experience accumulated in being PC will help them cope with interviews and will be conducive to handling management work in the Force in the future. Moreover, the diversified policing duties can help others. They can give full play to their strengths regardless of their they position as PC or PI.”