'The South Stand is like a zoo with no cages. It can get out of control on Sunday,' Edmiston said. 'But the biggest weapon we have is talking. A chat and a laugh with someone can defuse a situation a lot quicker than any kind of strong-arm tactics.

'It's safety that is our priority and prevention is always the best cure. A joke and a smile goes a long way.'

Of course, when people are consuming this amount of alcohol over three days a joke and a smile only goes so far.

'If all else fails and things start to escalate we will grab them quickly - with a smile. And then eject them - with a smile,' Chief Inspector Gus Scott said.

But there is no doubt the overall message is one of patience.

The Sevens is a policing situation like no other. Veterans like Edmiston (10th Sevens) and Scott (13th) have seen it all at this stage, and they know better than most that a laid-back attitude towards all the hi-jinks goes a long way.

Derek Fung Ching-yeung, of the police airport security unit, who was also working yesterday, admitted it could be hard at times in the South Stand but that it was a good laugh, too.

'It can get really crazy working in here, but it's fun as well,' he said. 'We are not here to ruin anyone's day, we just want to make sure everyone enjoys themselves without any trouble.'

Fung and his team had to eject a drunk young man on Friday night but apart from that everyone was having a good time. So much so that a girl wearing a pink tutu came over and sang Fung's praises.

'This guy is really cool,' she said. 'They're all doing a good job.'

It is all a major learning curve for inexperienced police constables and something that will stand them in good stead for the future. In total, 80 police officers, of varying degrees of experience, volunteered to work at the Sevens this weekend.

'We just tell the young guys the more you do your job, the more you'll enjoy it,' Edmiston said. 'Don't stand back because people are too rowdy or whatever. Be friendly and get involved.

'They'll see that this method gets results as well as giving them more confidence to use their English.'

However, one of the most thankless jobs in the world must be working as a security guard. The image of local security staff lined around the pitch and in various parts of the stadium looking as if the world is about to end resonates every time the event takes place.

Their faces grow even darker and nervous glances increase as the weekend goes on and the South Stand gets more boisterous. Today at the Sevens must be one of the longest days of your life if you are a security guard.

When you consider that they earn between HK$32 per hour (for a junior security staff member) to HK$65 per hour (for a security team leader) it is no wonder they look miserable as they get showered with beer.

International Wing Shing Security Management is providing the security personnel this year and the firm is hopeful mistakes made in previous years will be avoided this time around.

'All experienced security will be based in certain areas of the ground where they are most needed to stop pitch invasions,' the firm's security manager, Jacky So, said. 'Older security staff and female security staff will be given only other light duties. They won't be in situations where there could be trouble. In the past this has happened.'

Even the best laid plans can go awry, and there are sure to be pitch invasions and arrests, but so long as everyone has a fun and safe time there will be no complaints, that is unless you're sitting today beside the guy in the Pink Panther outfit.

Out in force

The number of police officers at the Sevens this year is 80

Private security guards who will be on the job today: 683