25 · Through thick and thin | Immigration Officer Eva Yu: HK people have weathered challenges with great solidarity

Vetting visa applications from visitors, meeting with applicants and dealing with different inquiries......This is the day-to-day work of 25-year-old Immigration Officer Eva Yu.

After studying surveying at university, Yu could have joined the surveying profession as her classmates did. But the year she graduated, the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement broke out in HK. She was so shocked by the overwhelming news coverage that she developed the idea to step out of her comfort zone.

"The social atmosphere at that time made me contemplate my original intention, which was to serve the public and contribute to society," Yu said.

With this thought in mind, Yu applied for a post at the Immigration Department. In HK, the services provided by the Immigration Department cover all aspects of "life to death" of a citizen. "Looking back on my life, I realize that at every stage of my life, I had to rely on the services provided by the Immigration Department," Yu said.

With the support of her family and friends, Yu finally passed the examination to become an Immigration Officer in October 2019.

In February 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic caught everyone by surprise. As a trainee then, Yu was given her first career challenge - she was deployed to a special work unit to help Hong Kong people stranded in Wuhan and on board the Diamond Princess at that time. Her main task was to answer calls for help from stranded HK residents, providing them with practical information and psychological counseling.

As the epidemic situation continues to develop, Yu began to think about what else she could do in the face of the epidemic. When the department invited colleagues to join the frontline epidemic response team, Yu did not hesitate to do so. "I hope I can work on the front line and provide the most appropriate assistance to those in need in person.

She was then assigned to the Contact Tracing Office, where she actively searched for hidden chains of transmission to prevent a large-scale community outbreak. Looking back on her involvement in the fight against the epidemic, Yu has always been on the frontline, serving the community wholeheartedly.

Yu said that the Immigration Department has to serve the public as well as enforce the law against illegal workers and overstayers. Speaking of the future, Yu said "I hope I can accumulate more experience and be well-equipped to continue to stand at the front line and guard the southern gate of the country."

Born in April 1997, Yu has grown up together with the HK SAR. In her eyes, HK has seen many ups and downs over the past 25 years, but the people of Hong Kong have weathered different challenges together with great solidarity, like family members supporting each other.

"As a member of the new generation in HK, I hope we can maintain the courage and spirit to pursue their dreams while trying to live their lives to the fullest. "We must not only achieve something for ourselves but also contribute to the future of HK and our country," she said.