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Sunday 22 November not only marked the first ever Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force open day during which the new Auxiliary Police Headquarters in Kowloon Bay was opened to the public, it also saw Commissioner of Police Eddie Hui Ki-on taking the salute and reviewing the passing-out parade of auxiliary constable Squads One through Five of 1998.

For the 160 auxiliary recruits passing out on the day, it will go down in their hearts and minds as one of the proudest and most memorable in their lives.

For no one is this more true than for auxiliary recruit, and now Auxiliary Police Constable Danny Hui, the recipient of the Silver Whistle for the best overall performance by a recruit constable in his squad (No. 4/98) - and the 29-year-old son of Hong Kong Police Commissioner Hui.

"I'm looking forward to him handing me the prize," Danny said a week earlier from his office at Merrill Lynch (Asia Pacific), where since June 1997 he has worked in the operations department as an assistant manager handling the settlement of equities for the firm's greater China market including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

After receiving a Master degree in international banking, he did over three years training at a chartered accountancy firm in London before returning to Hong Kong in September 1996.

"Since the handover, a lot of my British friends have been asking me if there's been a radical change in Hong Kong," he says. "I tell them I have noticed two differences: when I went to the Sevens last year, they didn't play God Save the Queen, and they didn't fly the Union Jack. That was it."

Danny Hui said he studied accountancy as a profession because he has always been interested in figures, and it was a way to get into the business world. He said he joined the Auxiliary Police because it was in his blood.

"You cannot be in the Hui family and not feel the urge to serve the community in some capacity," he smiled. "In our family's case it's as a police officer. Throughout my formative years all the family friends, uncles and so on were police officers. And although I decided on a different career, I nonetheless developed a natural interest and inclination for police work.

"Becoming an auxiliary allows us regular citizens to get involved in directly helping the community. But it works both ways. As an auxiliary you contribute to society, but in return there's the opportunity for self-development and personal growth. The satisfaction at, for example, using your first-aid training to help save a life is something you can't experience any way else. You help people, but in return the feeling that you are making a contribution is a reward in itself."

But make no mistake about it, the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force is not for every one. Apart from being able to measure up to the Force's requirements, recruits, who are professionals in other fields with full-time jobs, must be totally committed. For Danny Hui that meant committing himself to the programme: intensive training two nights a week, plus Sundays continuously for 24 weeks, six months.

"Auxiliaries place a lot of importance on firearms training. That took a long time," he recalls. "There were 11 weeks of shooting practice on Sundays and we had to go through some pretty strict examinations, although studying Hong Kong laws and rules and regulations was pretty interesting.

"For Weekdays it's four hours per night while for Sundays it ranges from four to eight hours. Actually I'm going to need a break after the passing out," he laughs wiping his brow.

Danny Hui said that his decision to join the auxiliary was done independently. In fact, he handed in his application without telling his dad.

"When he found out, I don't know if he was surprised - he doesn't usually show things like that," Danny laughs. "But I'm sure Dad has to be careful not to get involved. Neither I nor he would want or expect that I get anything approaching preferential treatment. Although along the way he did encourage me. He would ask how the examinations were going, or whether I would manage to get the Silver Whistle - which I did."

After mentioning the award, Danny pauses. From the tone in his voice and the expression on his face it's quite evident that it means a great deal to him and was hard-earned - and as much for himself as for his father.

"I'm glad the Wan Chai Divisional Commander is using auxiliaries more and more alongside the regular police," he says changing the subject. "After passing out I hope to be posted in Wan Chai, although they haven't told me where I'll be going.

"As an auxiliary the amount of time you serve is up to you. I think the minimum requirement is eight hours per month. But that's nothing, really. I intend to spend one night per week, and then maybe a few hours over the weekend. Probably about 50 hours per month.

"I'm looking forward to getting on the beat," he added. "Naturally I do have worries about what I'll come across, but I'll have to take it as it comes and draw on the training and common sense."

Police Report No.4

Issued by PPRB

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

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