Fight crime ambassadors find Australia trip rewarding (with photos)

Fifteen fight crime ambassadors found their recent 8-day trip to Australia rewarding as they returned home with new insights into youth crime prevention, broadened horizons and high team spirit.

The ambassadors, aged 14 to 24, visited Melbourne and Sydney in late August after winning the "Hang Seng Bank - Help the Police Fight Youth Crime Competition 2006", which was aimed at enhancing youngsters' alertness to juvenile crimes and encouraging them to help Police fight crime.

In Melbourne, they were officially greeted by the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Ms Christine Nixon, the first woman to lead a police force in Australia.

"I am honoured to chat with Ms Nixon and agree with her that a good leader should respect and trust his or her subordinates and be dedicated to serving the community," said ambassador Melody Ching.

The ambassadors also visited the Victoria Police Academy, the Mounted Branch where Police horses were trained, New South Wales (NSW) Police's Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit and the Marine Area Command in Sydney.

They enjoyed a cultural exchange with "Aussie" youngsters in a Police and Community Youth Club established by NSW Police and a non-profit making organisation to help teenagers at risk through leadership training, sports, cultural and community activities.

"We had a good time at the club with our new friends. To thank them for their hospitality, we treated them to an erhu performance and a traditional Chinese dance. In return, they invited us to join them in a gymnastic class. It was such a memorable experience," said Janice Kung, the youngest member of the delegation.

Apart from gaining fight crime knowledge, the ambassadors also explored the customs and traditions as well as the history and culture of the country.

At the Sovereign Hill museum, they learned how Chinese workers contributed to the flourishing mining town of Ballarat near Melbourne more than a century ago. After trying their luck panning for gold, they got a ride on a horse-driven coach.

The tour also provided the ambassadors with a good opportunity to learn to be more considerate and brush up their organising skills as they took turns to be leaders in arranging meals and preparing for the presentation of souvenirs to the host units.

Ambassador Emily Chan said: "In the course of arranging dinner for over 25 persons, I learned to strike a balance between budget and preferences, and my organising skills have improved."

The delegation rounded up their tour meeting local media representatives at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney before returning to Hong Kong.

The "Hang Seng Bank - Help the Police Fight Youth Crime Competition" is a biennial event organised by the Police with sponsorship from Hang Seng Bank and Qantas Airways Limited.

The competition this year was open to primary, secondary and tertiary students and a record number of 125,000 entries were received, the highest in the past 30 years.

The 15 winners outshone other candidates in different challenges including essay writing, leadership, presentation skills and English language ability.


Police Report No. 3

Ends/Wednesday, September 6, 2006