From ordinary to extraordinary – the power of teamwork

05 March 2023

There is no sure win in the soccer world. All-star teams do not necessarily have an advantage over their counterparts, as they may not have the same team spirit as their opponents do. The philosophy also holds true in the workplace where teamwork makes a real difference and, sometimes, even earns accolades.

Chinachem’s security team lead Wong Hiu-sing, along with three team members, recently won the Gold Award at the Best Security Personnel Awards (Industrial/ Commercial; New Territories South) 2021-2022 organised by the Hong Kong Police Force for their courageous, selfless and professional rescue efforts in a car accident that happened near Nina Mall last year. “My instinctive reaction was to get all trapped passengers out. Being a hero wasn’t my intention at all,” recalled Wong, who was patrolling outside the Mall with her colleague Yeung Hon-ming when a deafening noise was heard. The next second they saw an overturned mini-bus on Yeung Uk Road with smoke belching from it. Wong, acted as the “commander-in-chief”, immediately rushed to the scene and requested for assistance from the control room, while asking Yeung to grab a fire extinguisher to cool the vehicle down.

The security team of Chinachem Group receives the award from the Hong Kong Police Force

Yeung, who battled with black smoke from a short distance, was complained by his two concerned daughters afterwards for not putting his own safety first. “If I were not a security guard, I would have probably walked away. Now that I am professionally trained, how I responded to the emergency just came naturally to me.” Currently in his second year in the sector, the printer-turned-security admitted that his impression about the profession had taken a U-turn. “We are earning much more respect nowadays. Something unimaginable a decade ago. Just try your best to learn and serve. Nobody should look down on oneself.”

Photo: Yeung Hon-ming

This explains why Li Wing- wah, the most experienced among the quattro, is deeply gratified by the public acknowledgement. Also a father of two, the soon-to- retire helped evacuate and chill the passengers before the ambulance arrived. “I have been in the field for over 20 years, and the honour marks a perfect conclusion of my career. What I am particularly proud of is my girls’ compliments, who exclaimed in delight, ‘Papa, you are incredible!’” Li’s professional development had a bumpy start. Having spent his youth in metalware, he had to start anew in his 40s as the industry saw a decline. “Coming from mainland China, I can’t speak native Cantonese. There were very limited options for me.” But an unwilling decision in the past has now turned into a source of pride.

Photo: Li Wing-wah

A team works best when members are able to lend fresh perspectives. To Yau Ming-shan, the van was obviously not his centre of attention. “Firstly, injured commuters needed to be rescued. But what concerned me more was the traffic, worrying that it would clog the streets around the Mall,” recalled Yau, who strived to ease the congestion before the evening rush hours. With comprehensive training in the past two years since onboarding, he accomplished his mission in an orderly and calm manner – two essential attributes required of him in his previous job as an accounting practitioner.

Photo: Yau Ming-shan

“Both roles demand a high level of concentration. In the past it was to do with computers, and now the surrounding environment.” His performance was applauded by colleagues, with Yeung chipping in, “He (Yau) has done an exceptional job. Thanks to his judgement and decisiveness, the ambulance could arrive in time.” Flattered, Yau revealed that team unity, a stark contrast to his former work mode, has won his heart.

While team spirit might be merely a slogan, it is evident here both in the way they interacted at the accident scene and in this interview. The synergy would not be possible without a good leader; and the three gentlemen had Wong to thank. Humble about their recognition, Wong shared how she excelled herself by paying attention to everyday events. “Read more news and learn from others. How they handle accidents can serve as useful references.” Concurrently, her work has shaped her view of life. “Having witnessed lives at stake, I’m a firm believer in Carpe diem. Let’s give our best shot in everything we do.”

Photo: Wong Hiu-sing

From ordinary to extraordinary – the power of teamwork

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