Hong Kong protests: ‘special police’ unit will be unveiled this week to ease pressure on embattled force, sources say
- Elite unit of 80, sourced mainly from prison riot team, set to be deployed to safeguard key sites in city
- Police chief to announce new squad within days following approval from Hong Kong leader under public order legislation
An elite prison unit of about 80 riot control specialists will be deployed to guard important sites in Hong Kong to ease the burden on a police force stretched to the limit by anti-government protests, sources have told the Post.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is expected this week to announce the unprecedented move, made under public-order legislation that allows her to authorise the police commissioner to appoint “special constables”.
A senior police source said force chief Stephen Lo Wai-chung was preparing to officially appoint the new team, which would be largely drawn from a response unit that deals with prison riots and would help protect key locations in the city such as Lam’s official residence.
The city’s biggest police association welcomed the move as a show of unity among the disciplined forces against the challenges of the protests, but urged the government to protect all law enforcement personnel from doxxing and bullying.
The police source said: “The 80 special cops will be recruited on a voluntary basis from the Correctional Services Department, mainly from the elite response team which is trained to deal with prison riots.”