Officer who fired live rounds in controversial Mong Kok riot showdown among four police honoured for bravery
Around 300 frontline officers, a quarter of the manpower deployed in the riot, would also receive merit certificates from their commanding officers
Four officers will receive an award from the police chief on Wednesday afternoon for their handling of the Mong Kok riot in February, including the officer who controversially fired two live rounds in the air, and a female station sergeant who broke her fingers amid the violence, the Post has learned.
The closed-door ceremony will be held in the multi-purpose hall at police headquarters in Wan Chai at 3pm. A senior police source said Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung is to award a “lanyard in colours” to the four officers and to commend 15 police units for their “devotion to duty” during the bloody clashes in February.
Among the four were three traffic officers from Kowloon West – Wong Hing-wai who opened fire to protect his colleagues from the violent mob; injured Ho Yik-hang who was seen lying on the ground while being set upon by protestors armed with bricks, glass bottles and wooden boards; and Yeung Choi-ho who attempted to arrest those assaulting Ho.
“The force saw the need to honour the extraordinary courage of Wong, despite critics questioning the justification of the shots,” the source said. “After all, the chief had already justified Wong’s action shortly after the riot.”
Also receiving a lanyard was station sergeant Hung Pui-sze. The former Police Tactical Unit (PTU) officer permanently lost function in two of her fingers, as her hands were hit by bricks when protecting her colleagues from attacks by protestors.
Representatives from the 15 units, including the Counter Terrorism Response Unit, PTU and Crime Kowloon West, are to receive merits from Lo. Other top brass including the deputy commissioners will attend the ceremony.
The overnight clashes on the first night of the Lunar New Year lasted more than 10 hours and left more than 130 people injured. Fires were lit in 22 locations and about 2,000 bricks were dug up from pavements by protesters, and hurled at police officers.
As of late June, the force received 33 complaints about police conduct during the riot, with many of the cases related to assaults.
Around 300 frontline officers, or around a quarter of the manpower deployed in the riot, would also receive merit certificates from their commanding officers.
Sergeant Wong Lok-on, who suffered skull and cheekbone fractures during the clashes was recommended for the top honour – a red lanyard presented by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying at Government House.
