China News Service, Hong Kong, January 31st, Title: No worries for the benevolent - Exclusive interview with Hong Kong police "negotiation expert" Cai Yuyu
China News Service reporter Han Xingtong
On the Tsing Ma Bridge, which is nearly a thousand feet high, one can overlook the lights of thousands of houses in Hong Kong. However, a man had no intention of lingering in the bustling scene. He sat dangerously on the edge of the bridge, waiting for an opportunity to jump off.
This is what Cai Yuyu, the training director of the Negotiation Team of the Hong Kong Police Force, rushed to the scene of the incident a few years ago. After analyzing the situation at the scene, she determined that this case was quite difficult. Not only was the person who attempted suicide very determined, but also because the environment of the bridge made it difficult to register the accident once it occurred, so the only way was to persuade.
Without saying a word, Cai Yongyu stepped over the railing of the bridge, walked to the man and sat down, listening to him talk about all the frustrations and pains in life. At that time, the calm Cai Yongyu comforted and carefully peeled off the cocoons from the conversation in front of him, looking for a breakthrough to open up his heart.
After so many years, the case was brought up again, and the touch and sense of accomplishment brought about by retrieving a desperate man in the cold wind and bringing him to a safe place still stayed in Cai Yuyu's heart. Since joining the police negotiation unit in 2009, she has handled countless similar cases.
Cai Yuyu, the training director of the Negotiation Team of the Hong Kong Police Force, recently accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service. Photo by China News Service reporter Li Zhihua
When people mention "negotiation expert", they may think of the image in Hong Kong movies of a person who can turn the tide with his iron teeth and bronze teeth at critical moments. But the Cai Yongyu in front of me has a soft voice, a crooked smile, and is very approachable. These are exactly the qualities that a good negotiator needs to possess - rather than being eloquent, he needs to be good at listening and understand others with empathy; Rather than being overbearing, you need to be able to handle problems flexibly and work as a team.
This position, which seems quite mysterious to the outside world, is selected from within the police force. In addition to passing a two-day selection, they must also participate in a two-week residential crisis negotiation course to test the trainees' abilities in high-pressure and harsh situations. Improve the psychological quality of performing duties. The training content includes crisis negotiation principles, active listening skills, suicide attempt handling, hostage handling, counter-terrorism activities and tactical negotiation, etc.
Cai Yuyu, the training director of the Negotiation Team of the Hong Kong Police Force, recently accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service. Photo by China News Service reporter Li Zhihua
Back in 1974, the Police Negotiation Team was established as a result of a bank robbery that lasted more than 20 hours. Nearly half a century has passed since the negotiation, and the Negotiation Team has been continuously given new functions and challenges as the times change. “Our work is more integrated into social life. In addition to counter-terrorism and hostage-taking incidents, we also handle suicide cases and mediate in large-scale public events. During the epidemic prevention and control period, we also assisted different departments in lobbying work. "Over the years, the negotiation team has continued to grow, from more than 10 people at the beginning to more than 100 people now.
The voluntary nature of this job means that in addition to performing normal police duties, members of the negotiation team are on call 24 hours a day to handle emergencies. Under such work pressure and intensity, Cai Yuyu has been asked many times, why should he become a negotiator? She feels that in the final analysis it is a sense of professional mission.
"Everyone who becomes a police officer has a sense of mission and hopes to directly help people in need in society, protect citizens' lives and property, and maintain social order. I feel that joining the police negotiation team is towards this goal I feel very satisfied when I move forward and help others." Cai Yuyu said.
Cai Yuyu, the training director of the Negotiation Team of the Hong Kong Police Force, recently accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service. Photo by China News Service reporter Li Zhihua
She flipped through a commemorative magazine of the police negotiation team and told reporters the thrilling stories behind each photo. The cover of the commemorative issue is printed with the negotiating team's values of "sincerity, benevolence, and commitment." Cai Yiyu likes the meaning given by the word benevolence the most, because benevolent people have no worries, which is closest to her original intention of becoming a police officer - to be frank and honest. As a human being, always have a benevolent heart to save lives and resolve crises. (over)