Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Yuen Yuk-kin is retiring soon. Reviewing his 37-year police career, he takes most pride in staying together with his colleagues over the years to overcome challenges, serve the public and safeguard Hong Kong. He encourages Force members to stay true to their original aspiration of “protecting the family, defending the country and upholding law and order” to achieve “addressing both symptoms and causes” by co-operating with other departments and social stakeholders to eliminate hidden hazards at source.

Yuen Sir has stationed in various crime investigation units. In the 1980s and 1990s when armed robberies were rampant, he was assigned to a Regional Crime Unit. He recalled, “I had to wear a flak jacket almost every day so that I could dash out to raid the target premise and arrest the suspect.” The experience gained from participating in criminal investigations in his early years was a lifetime benefit. “I have been engaged in investigating cases involving different jurisdictions. During the process, I learnt thinking from multiple perspectives for resolving complex problems strategically.”

Speaking of the riot in 2019, Yuen Sir admitted frankly that it was the most unforgettable period of his police career. He was distressed that many young people were instigated to commit serious illegal acts and they were eventually convicted and imprisoned, which was indeed a high price to pay. The behind-the-scene instigators, however, had fled overseas already. He was also distressed that many frontline police officers were injured and doxxed, with their residence damaged and their family members threatened. Despite such predicament, Yuen Sir and his colleagues of all ranks were able to face up to the challenges so that Hong Kong could restore peace and citizens could enjoy normal life again. This is absolutely the most unforgettable experience in his career.

Yuen Sir advises his colleagues that they should be officers with a “heart and mind”. The “mind” means considering issues from multiple perspectives: when faced with complex issues, we should have the courage to think outside the box and try to solve problems with innovative means; the “heart” refers to empathy and taking justifications of law, reason and compassion into consideration to gain social support so that crime prevention and crime fighting efforts can be more effective. He encourages colleagues to stay true to their original aspirations. When faced with difficulties, they should cope with them by upholding the spirit of “Serving Hong Kong with Honour, Duty and Loyalty”. “As long as the Force stays united, I am totally confident that Hong Kong will continue to be one of the safest and most stable cities in the world.”

Memory with intake mates (PI 300-302)

Yuen Sir came from a big intake back in 1986 with 36 probationary inspector trainees (including 7 expatriates). Although being one of the youngest in the group, he enjoyed hugely the very demanding and rewarding training. The intake has since the first day of their training been staying closely together and been meeting regularly on social occasions.

There are many arts and sports talents in the group, ranging from singing, painting, badminton, basketball, football, shooting to tennis. Some of them later in their police career proceeded to chair police sports clubs. Apart from having one deputy commissioner, the intake sees 21 officers holding the rank of superintendent or above, including two assistant commissioners, five chief superintendents, seven senior superintendents. Amongst them are four former Aide-de-Camps and three former Personal Assistants to Commissioner. They have now all retired from the Force and some of them have moved on to work in the government, the private sector as well as public and statutory bodies, further contributing to the society.