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Joyce Ng

A policeman pointed a shotgun at a protesting crowd on Tuesday night in fear for his life, after he was surrounded and had his helmet snatched, the force has said.
The sergeant aimed the weapon, loaded with beanbag rounds, during clashes in which 23 other officers were assaulted and splashed with corrosive liquid, it added.
Police were also investigating an attack near Tin Shui Wai Police Station in the small hours of Wednesday, when someone in a car with fake licence plates let off fireworks at hundreds of people gathering outside the complex, injuring six.
Hundreds of anti-government protesters surrounded the Tin Shui Wai and Kwai Chung police stations for hours from Tuesday evening, with clashes breaking out at the latter, sparking the gun incident.




The police force, suffering soured relations with the public amid a running political crisis, issued two statements to condemn violence at the two protests, stressing that it had the ability to maintain social order.
The Kwai Chung clashes happened as hundreds of protesters gathered at the police station and waited for 44 suspects charged with rioting to be released on bail ahead of court appearances on Wednesday.
In a statement, the force gave its own account how tensions there escalated.
It said that at 9.30pm, when two police vehicles left the station, protesters threw corrosive liquid at officers nearby.
Cathay pilot and 16-year-old among Hongkongers bailed on riot charges
An hour later, some officers were sent to Kwai Fong MTR station, where there was a report of an assault. As they returned to the station, the statement read, “two officers were surrounded by a big group of radical protesters, who hurled objects and launched attacks”.
“One of them was assaulted by many people. In order to protect his life and personal safety, he raised a long gun loaded with beanbag rounds as a caution,” it continued. “The officer also had his helmet snatched.”
To protect his life and personal safety, [the officer] raised a long gun loaded with beanbag rounds as a caution
Police statement
Suspected personal details of the officer, and a supposed photo of his family, appeared on social media hours after images of him pointing the gun were widely circulated.
The force said 24 officers were assaulted or had corrosives thrown at them in the ensuing fracas, with five sent to hospital.
Those facing riot charges were the first batch of protesters prosecuted since a series of demonstrations erupted in Hong Kong in June against the now-shelved extradition bill.
The bill would have allowed the city to transfer suspects to jurisdictions with which it lacks a formal extradition agreement, including mainland China, where critics say fair trials are not guaranteed.

The Kwai Chung clashes were followed by the conflicts in Tin Shui Wai, where protesters at the police station demanded the release of three men arrested for criminal damage at a “Lennon Wall” peppered with protest-related memos.
In a separate statement, police said they received multiple reports of someone driving past the police station and shooting several fireworks at the crowd.
Five of the injured were admitted to hospital and later discharged. Another refused to go to hospital.
A police source said the car’s number plate had been stolen from another car.
In a joint statement, the Hong Kong Journalists Association and the Press Photographers Association strongly condemned “deliberate attacks” on the press by police during the Kwai Chung protest.
The groups noted that when officers dispersed the protesters, they were seen hitting an Apple Daily photographer in the head with a riot shield, chasing and beating a female reporter from RTHK who wore a reflective vest with “Press” written on it, and using pepper spray on reporters.
The associations said officers had “lost control over their emotions and targeted the press” on various occasions during the weeks of protests. They would lodge serious representations with the government and seek advice on bringing legal proceedings against the force, the statement added.


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Gun-toting officer was in fear for his life, Hong Kong Police say after more extradition bill clashes

The officer in Kwai Chung points his gun, loaded with beanbag rounds, at the protesting crowd. Photo: AFP

Protesters clash with police officers at Kwai Chung Police Station after appearring and throwing eggs and umbrellas into the building in response to the 44 people who were arrested and charged for rioting on Sunday. 30JUL19 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Hong Kong protesters injured in drive-by firework attack from private vehicle after clashes outside police stations

Fireworks were shot from a car at protesters outside Tin Shui Wai Police Station, seen in this video screen grab. Photo: SCMP Pictures

A protester shouts as hundreds of protesters gather outside Kwai Chung police station in Hong Kong, Tuesday, July 30, 2019. Protesters clashed with police again in Hong Kong on Tuesday night after reports that some of their detained colleagues would be charged with the relatively serious charge of rioting. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Police use pepper spray during clashes with protesters who had gathered outside Kwai Chung police station, in support of protesters detained with the charge of rioting, in Hong Kong on July 30, 2019. (Photo by ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

A police officer (C) points a firearm during clashes with protesters who had gathered outside Kwai Chung police station, in support of protesters detained with the charge of rioting, in Hong Kong on July 30, 2019. (Photo by ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

Protesters gather outside Kwai Chung police station in support of protesters detained with the charge of rioting during recent clashes in Hong Kong on July 30, 2019. (Photo by ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

Hong Kong police ‘under investigation’ by corruption watchdog over failure to protect public during Yuen Long attacks

The Yuen Long mob had primarily targeted people returning from a protest, but attacked citizens indiscriminately. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Riot police fire teargas on protestors as they retreat after scuffles broke out around the Central district. 28JUL19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

(L-R) Lam Chi-wai, chairman of the Junior Police Officersâ Association of the Hong Kong Police Force; Ronny Chan Man-tak, chairman of Superintendentsâ Association of Hong Kong Police Force; Wilkie Ng Wai-kei, chairman of the Hong Kong Police Inspectors' Association; and Neil Taylor, chairman of Hong Kong Police Overseas Inspectorsâ Association, speak to media after meeting with Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung at CGO, Tamar. 30JUL19 Photo:SCMP/Nora Tam

Anti-riot vehicles equipped with water cannons to begin road tests in Hong Kong and could be ready to disperse protesters in August

Police are weighing up whether to use the vehicles to spray liquid dye on radical protesters to make identifying suspects easier, according to a senior police insider. Photo: Edward Wong

Force to be reckoned with weight: no more than 24 tonnes Fitted with four seats Covering 20,000km per year Number of cannons: 15 in total, including two major and four small ones Two Roof cannons Output: at least 1,200 litres/minute Operating pressure: at least 1.000 kilopascals (kPa) Range: at least 50 metres Rotation: 180 degrees on either side, providing 360-degree coverage from — both cannons Three Lateral and Rear Cannons Location: each side and the back of the vehicle output: at least 400 litres/min per nozzle operating pressure: at least 1000kPa Range: at least 25 metres Rotation: 170 de One Forward cannon Location: front centre of the vehicle Output: at least 1,000 litres/min Operating pressure: at least 1000kPa Range: at least 40 metres with full water jet and 20 metres with spray Rotation: 180 degrees Nine underbody Cannons Location: driver's cab, rear body. assembly of each wheel and engine Output: at least 70 litres/min per nozzle Operating pressure: at least 1,000kPa Range

Three controversial anti-riot vehicles armed with water cannons will hit the streets of Hong Kong this week (the week of 29th July) and be ready to handle unrest in mid-August if they pass road tests, the Post has learned.Operational guidelines had been finalised and the force was weighing up whether to use the vehicles to spray liquid dye on radical protesters to make identifying suspects easier, a senior police insider revealed. HANDOUT PHOTO

Three controversial anti-riot vehicles armed with water cannons will hit the streets of Hong Kong this week. Photo: Handout

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Hong Kong

Law and Crime


The sergeant had been surrounded and had his helmet snatched, force says
Protesters were picketing Kwai Chung Police Station waiting for 44 people charged with rioting to be released on bail



The sergeant had been surrounded and attacked, force says. Protesters were picketing Kwai Chung Police Station waiting for 44 people charged with rioting to be released on bail.


Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong police

Gun-toting officer was in fear for his life, Hong Kong Police say after more extradition bill clashes

The sergeant had been surrounded and had his helmet snatched, force says Protesters were picketing Kwai Chung Police Station waiting for 44 people charged with rioting to be released on bail

The sergeant had been surrounded and had his helmet snatched, force says

Protesters were picketing Kwai Chung Police Station waiting for 44 people charged with rioting to be released on bail