(OffBeat Article)

***********************************************************

It was another "school day" for Winsy Ng Wing-see, a PI who joined the PTS in mid-August this year after graduating from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles with a major in business administration.

"I was braced for the pressure at the PTS when I decided to join the Force. As it turned out,the pressure was much more than I'd expected," said the 23-year-old PI.

"I couldn't have made it without the guidance and support from my Course Instructor (CI)," she said.

According to Ms Ng, her CI was more than a teacher in subjects relating to police work. She was also her mentor. "As we have to be together for nearly nine months, my CI will get to know me better than my parents," she said.

"Having gone part way through the PI induction course, I realise that a real leader must be more than a hard worker. He or she must lead by example and make others follow as a group," added the young woman police officer.

"In addition, a police officer needs to broaden his or her perspective and foresight in order to know how to adopt the best approach to changing circumstances. Indeed, the induction course is teaching me as much about life skills as police skills. I now understand what discipline is - and that what I do very often affects other people. Consequently I've become much more considerate, which surprised my parents when I was home for holidays."

On the social front, she said: "Some think that life in the PTS is all study and training. But we lead an unbelievably enriched life. There is a very high sense of camaraderie between fellow recruits and a multitude of events and gatherings in which to participate. There's no doubt that we all have a very strong sense of belonging."

Ms Ng also makes the point that her initial sense of being a "female police officer" has been replaced by that of simply being a "police officer".

"Women police officers are paid the same as their male counterparts - and none of us ask for, or expect, special treatment when it comes to training or work. In fact, performing as well as the men is a boost to one's self-confidence - which was the case when (through hard work and training as my fingers were initially too weak) I finally managed to competently fire a hand gun."

Concluded Ms Ng: "Although there are still some months to go before passing out, I strongly believe that the induction course is a turning point in my life - and that it will enable me to develop my full potential as a good police officer."

Police Report No.6

Issued by PPRB

End/1430 hrs, Wednesday December 2, 1998 (PP)

NNNN

2