Chatting and laughing, the three members of the Police Force core management headed for the parade ground to attend the passing-out ceremony, accompanied by the Police Academy management.
The only difference was that Zhou Quan and Yin Xiaofeng sat on the dais.
Lee Man-bun, meanwhile, sat in the spectator stands as a family member, watching all the graduating cadets, including his son Lee Family Ka-chun, perform their drill.
The entire graduation ceremony proceeded much as it had the first time Zhou Quan attended.
Senior Superintendent Jiang Ping, who still served as the Police Academy's principal, presided over the ceremony.
As representatives of the Police Force core management, Zhou Quan and Yin Xiaofeng presented ranks and awards to the outstanding cadets.
The recipients of the Sir Fu Cup and the Shirley Shield had the privilege of standing right before Sir Kwan.
Those receiving the Silver Cock and the Honorary Baton could only meet Senior Assistant Commissioner Yin Xiaofeng.
There was a saying that rang true: a person's student years might be the time when their network of connections was at its broadest and most powerful.
Since cadets were still students, they remained students through and through until they formally walked out of the Police Academy's gates.
The Police Force took in no small number of fresh recruits each year, and there were plenty of cadets with outstanding results.
Yet even Silver Cock recipients, or winners of the Sir Fu Cup, awarded to the best cadet across all the Police Constable Classes, not uncommonly reached the end of their careers in the Junior Ranks.
Jiang Ping, the Police Academy principal holding the rank of Senior Superintendent, might be the highest-ranking member of the Police Force they would ever meet up close during their careers.
How much more so for Zhou Quan and