Mystery as police kill traffic offender

LEGISLATIVE councillors last night called for an immediate investigation into the police shooting of a man whose car dragged an officer along Chatham Road in Tsim Sha Tsui after being stopped for a series of traffic violations.

Legco Security Panel convener Mrs Elsie Tu questioned the use of new, powerful revolvers and more lethal bullets in what last night appeared to be a traffic case.

''We must have an investigation for this type of thing,'' she said.

''It seems pretty strange to me that the policeman being dragged along the road was able to put his hand behind his back into his holster to get his gun out and shoot the driver.

''The car couldn't have been going that fast.

''It is a strange case, especially to use those weapons on a traffic case.

''What I've heard so far is unsatisfactory.'' The incident was the first in which police opened fire using new .38 heavy-barrelled Smith and Wesson revolvers and semi-jacketed hollow-point bullets, introduced last month to give the police more stopping power.

Legislator Mr Zachary Wong Wai-yin said he would question police, through the Security Panel, on whether excessive force was used in the incident.

He said the crucial point was whether the police constable's life was in danger when he was dragged along the road.

The high-speed chase started about 3 am, when a white Mercedes-Benz was spotted jumping a red traffic light at the junction of Nathan and Austin Roads.

Police pursued the car, but signals given to the driver, Chan Hon-wing, 34, to stop were ignored.

After a five-minute chase in which the driver made two illegal turns and jumped another light, police intercepted the car at the corner of Austin and Chatham Roads.

The Mercedes stopped and, according to police, Chan opened his door.

Superintendent Gilbert Jorge said the Mercedes then drove off in spite of the policeman's orders to stop, trapping the officer's arm between the window and the door frame.

He said the policeman tried to get to his feet, but the speed of the car kept dragging him down.

The officer was dragged along Chatham Road for about 30 metres before reaching into his holster and firing his gun, killing the driver.

''Feeling that his life was in danger, the officer reportedly fired one shot, hitting the driver. The car eventually stopped.'', a police spokesman said.

Chan was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with a gunshot wound in his back, but was certified dead at 3.45 am.

The policeman was also taken to hospital with injuries to both feet and his ankles, but was treated and discharged.

One of the two passengers in the car and another policeman were injured during a scuffle when the 34-year-old passenger, also surnamed Chan, tried to escape after the car stopped.

Last night detectives were still trying to work out why the Mercedes-Benz sped off for no apparent reason after trapping the policeman's arm in the driver's door.

Superintendent Jorge said: ''We have no idea why they should take such extreme measures to drag a police constable along the road.

''Everybody is quite puzzled about why they would do this when they had only committed a traffic offence.'' According to police, the car had not been reported stolen, none of the three men in the Mercedes were wanted by police, they were not armed and there were no drugs or stolen goods in the car.

The police do not believe the car was involved in road racing, which frequently takes place in the same area.

Police said they believed Chan had just bought the car from an acquaintance, although the registration was still in the original owner's name.

The other passenger in the car, a 29-year-old man surnamed Chow, was arrested after the shooting but was released on $1,500 bail late last night and has to report back to police next month.

Both passengers were interviewed by detectives yesterday and were due to give statements to the police.

The white Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC is being held at Tsim Sha Tsui police station.