Hong Kong police have turned to a mainland manufacturer for their anti-riot protective gear, placing an order with the same company which has supplied law enforcement units in the Middle East. Senior superintendent Kong Wing-chueng from the police public relations branch confirmed on Tuesday that the force had bought new protective suits. Sources said 500 sets of the suits had been purchased from a mainland manufacturer. Kong said the purchase was made after protests in Hong Kong turned increasingly violent in recent months. “As a responsible employer, we purchase any equipment that provides the best protection to our officers,” he said. Police sources said it was the first time supplies for the force had been sourced from the mainland. Previously, Hong Kong police procured equipment, including protective gear, from Britain or France. However, Britain suspended export licences to Hong Kong for crowd control equipment in June over human rights concerns, and called for an investigation into violent scenes during the protests. “The new personal armour is the same type used by police on the mainland,” one Hong Kong police source said, adding that each suit costs about 3,000 yuan (US$420). He said the new suits were strong enough to protect officers from attacks with sharp objects and even small firearms. “It is also a bullet-resistant suit capable of protecting officers from small-calibre weapons such as a .22-calibre handgun.” According to the police, the first protective suits were delivered to the Ngau Tau Kok police station last Friday and have been distributed to Emergency Unit officers in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon East and New Territories South regions. Each Emergency Unit van is equipped with two sets of protective suits for its officers, whose primary task is to deal with 999 emergency calls as first responders to burglaries, domestic violence, fights, robberies and other crimes. Britain suspends exports of tear gas and rubber bullets to Hong Kong police Another Hong Kong police source said the new protective suit, each weighing about 8kg, was lighter than the “RoboCop-style” suit which had been in use for a long time. “It is heavier than the tactical suit bought from France [following the 2016 Mong Kok riot], but its protection is better compared with the French suit,” he said. About 100 officers were injured in the Mong Kok riots in 2016 prompting the force to buy 400 tactical suits from France. According to mainland sources, the new suits are manufactured by Guangzhou Wave Science and Technology Development and each weighs 7.9kg, about 30 per cent heavier than the French outfits. When contacted on Tuesday, Guangzhou Wave Science and Technology Development declined to comment. According to information posted on its website, the company produces equipment for the Chinese military and police, and exports to markets including Israel, Iraq, Thailand, Malaysia, Morocco, Jordan and Lebanon.