Gerald Kwok's childhood fascination with firemen led him to become a Fire Safety Ambassador at secondary school. His interaction with the Fire Services Department instructors considerably deepened his interest in and knowledge of the FSD.
“Personally, I always want to bring about positive changes in society,” says Kwok, an acting Assistant Divisional Officer in the Policy Division of the FSD. “I always had the aspiration to join disciplined services after graduation from university and I thought the FSD had a positive public image. I also wanted a career with diversified exposure. My understanding was that the FSD had many different divisions, such as operations and fire protection, and they were suitable for graduates with different specialised knowledge.”
After Kwok graduated from an undergraduate biochemistry programme at the University of Hong Kong in 2007, he enrolled in HKU’s full-time Master of corporate environmental governance programme. He graduated in 2008 and joined the FSD as a Station Officer (Operational).
Over the past 10 years, Kwok received ample exposure to the specialised knowledge and operations of the different divisions. He was first posted to the operational command in the New Territories and Kowloon, and then worked in the Building Improvement Division to assist in upgrading the fire safety systems of old buildings. Kwok now works on policy for dangerous goods.
The diversity inherent in his duties and the many opportunities to interact with different people give Kwok immense job satisfaction. “When I worked in the Building Improvement Division, we distributed fire safety direction to residents in tenement buildings. Most of these buildings did not have any property management and they were of strata title ownership with many landlords. It was challenging because we needed to contact the landlords one by one and to obtain detailed answers on the phone. Together with social workers and district councillors, we helped them establish their first incorporated owners’ associations to fulfil the fire safety requirements. Subsequently, these buildings were able to solve many other problems as well,” Kwok says. “This is very rewarding for us. On top of using our technical knowledge to help them comply with our regulations, we have provided other community services. For example, we let them know about the ways to apply for government subsidies. In the process, we also saw the relationship between Fire Officers and the residents evolve from one of reluctance and resistance to mutual understanding and collaboration.”
Kwok’s specialised training in biochemistry has come in handy as his work in the Policy Division entails identifying these items, their unique properties and hazards, and developing ways to mitigate these hazards. He also draws on what he learned in the Master’s degree programme when he provides fire safety advice to the environmental impact assessment reports prepared by the Environmental Protection Department. “Since 2017, I have been involved in dangerous goods policy making to safeguard public safety. I need to liaise with many different organisations and trade associations in our trade consultation exercise. Our role is to strike the fine balance between public safety and trade facilitation. This is a unique experience,” Kwok says. “In 2017, we held a series of seminars with Q & A sessions for representatives from various sectors. We were required to be very well prepared to ensure we gave the correct answers to their questions.”
Inquisitiveness and curiosity are among the attributes sought by the FSD, Kwok believes. The individuals should also be proactive learners who have the urge to get to the bottom of things. “Good interpersonal skills are essential. The Department looks for people who have the willingness to approach a wide spectrum of individuals and are keen on building connections to enhance their understanding and knowledge in diverse areas.”
Provided they have a commitment to public service, university graduates of different disciplines are suitable for positions such as Station Officer (Operational) at the FSD. “The Department has been expanding. For instance, there is the Community Emergency Preparedness Division that calls for expertise in communications and marketing,” Kwok notes. “I think the most vital is a proficiency in Chinese and English. Given the accountability requirement for public services, FSD personnel are expected to be eloquent and articulate. Some of us are required to provide information at Legislative Council meetings. They should excel at interacting with people and have good leadership skills. When they manage the stations, the officers need to build trust and team spirit among firemen across different age groups. Meanwhile, they are required to reach out to the community on such occasions as fire safety talks.”
University graduates who plan to apply for positions in the FSD should strengthen their social awareness and political sensitivity, Kwok says. “They need to develop a broad understanding of government policies and have thorough knowledge of those related to FSD. For example, policy for elderly care will have an impact on fire services because it will cover homes for the elderly. They need to see things from the public point of view and understand their demands for the government.”
