Advertisement
Advertisement

Dicing with death in line of duty

The unimaginable has happened. There is a car bomb and the police have been alerted. The bell rings at the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau in Jardine's Lookout and officers scramble into their vehicles and speed to the site.

Strapped into a 28-kilogram protective suit, a bomb disposal officer strides down a deserted six-lane highway passing abandoned vehicles with one aim: assess and dismantle. This is called 'the lonely walk' - one taken nearly 150 times a year by the bureau's 10-member team.

'The aim is to be prepared, understand the risk, overcome the danger and render a safe situation,' said senior bomb disposal officer Jimmy Yuen Hon-wing who last month became the first Chinese to head the world-class bureau.

Yuen first joined the bureau in 1998 as a 'matter of interest' - it was a part-time secondary duty with the police. Four years later, the then inspector became the first full-time local Chinese with the bureau. Rising up the ranks with former bureau chief head, Dominic Brittain, the recent succession has been a controlled process.

'Dominic Brittain and I are the same age and we would have retired together in four years time,' said the affable 51-year-old. 'He chose early retirement and this was a generous move which is good for the future succession.'

For Hong Kong, the bureau is the first, last and only resort. Officers work in pairs: one deals with and disposes of the bomb while the other prepares all the equipment, controls the bomb disposal robots and provides technical support.

The bureau's expertise in dismantling and disposing of explosives falls into four major categories: modern criminal bombs, chemical and nuclear bombs, second world war bombs and non-emergency surplus ammunition.

Since its creation in 1971, there have been no deaths and no major injuries. The world-class equipment and operating procedures have been established by learning from other countries.

'The public often believes that defusing a bomb involves cutting wires. This is incorrect. There are other options, such as robots, which can be employed. In Hong Kong, we have the freedom to create our own proven methodology and guidelines - taking the best practices from each region in the world.'

These have helped create a cast-iron set of rules that fit Hong Kong's geographical challenges and urban environment.

Yuen points to 'Wheelbarrow', a 300kg robot, and its smaller counterpart, the 30kg 'Cyclops'. They are both fitted to explore and dismantle bombs and explosives.

'In Hong Kong, it is all about modifying materials,' said Yuen. 'We need our equipment to be all weather. The humidity can take its toll on the machinery but the terrain is also challenging. When we first purchased Cyclops, he would roll down stairwells because of the steep gradient of the staircases. We worked with the manufacturer to do research and development which resulted in new software.'

Training and self-enhancement are a major component to keeping up with trends and new technologies.

The newest recruit to the team includes 32-year old Chief Inspector Raymond Suryanto Chin-chiu who is starting the demanding four-year training course as an assistant bomb disposal officer.

With the force for 11 years, the Indonesian-Chinese chief inspector began volunteering for the bomb squad in 2007 through a challenging eight-week course, which holds a near 80 per cent failure rate. Suryanto passed and is now embarking on a full-time position.

'I am happy to be part of the team,' said Suryanto who will learn new techniques within the wellestablished training system.

'I am interested in the nature of the work which requires much planning. In the next four years, I will be exposed to a variety of training and new techniques at home and overseas.'

The bureau's last recruit was taken on more than two years ago. Suryanto is following a prestigious path towards success and is ready to take on the action.

'I want Raymond to gain a feel for the job,' said Yuen who prompts Suryanto to put on the 28kg protective suit. 'I went through similar training and, maybe 15 years down the road, he will be the one to run' the bureau.

As head of the bureau, Yuen hopes to maintain the squad's international reputation, while expanding technical exchanges with the mainland and the regional police forces.

'I am interested in forming a more international network and training exchange by creating more training opportunities,' Yuen said. 'At this point in time, our counterparts overseas commend us for our professionalism and quick response time. I want this exchange to grow.'

There are no typical days, but extraordinary ones, like in 1995, when Yuen was perched on a sofa-sized second world war bomb balancing on a ship's anchor.

'That was one of the more strange moments,' admitted Yuen who recalled entering the bay on a fisherman's boat to see the spectacular sight of the aircraft bomb hoisted into the air. 'Sitting on the 500-pound bomb to dismantle it was different, but I was more concerned about the bomb rolling off the anchor and me hugging it for dear life. I could have drowned.'

Years of training and planning, the ability to find alternative solutions and a sense of humour - these are qualities found in every bomb disposal officer.

Post