The Unimog armoured personnel carrier (APC) introduced by the Force in 2009 was actively engaged in recent police operations to stop violence and curb disorder. On November 17 and 18, the APC was deployed to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) for anti-riot operations, shielding against petrol bombs as well as opening the way for Specialised Crowd Management Vehicles and anti-riot squads.

The APC driver responsible for this extremely difficult mission is an officer of the Police Tactical Unit. He revealed how he confronted this unprecedented challenge fearlessly and unveiled the secret capabilities of the Unimog APC.

“I was engaged in a joint operation with Hong Kong Island second echelon in Cheong Wan Road outside the PolyU, and was instructed to shove off blockages with the Unimog to allow the police fleet to move forward. The APC also served to protect the fleet as the rioters were shooting at police officers with slingshots from time to time. When I looked out from the cockpit, the scene was devastating. There were non-stop attacks by petrol bombs and hard objects, I felt like I was in a battlefield,” the APC driver said.

He recalled that he had been driving the APC on and off for 32 hours in two days and was hit by petrol bombs for over 50 times. “In one critical situation, the APC was hit by multiple petrol bombs. It was blazing outside the APC and the inside was filled with intense smoke. Despite facing extreme danger, I believed in the defensive capabilities of the APC. I was well trained and was absolutely capable of bringing the APC back to a safe area.”

Someone claimed that Special Duties Unit officers were on standby for actions in the APC. The APC driver clarified that other than himself, there was only one sergeant from the Special Tactical Contingent. Learning from this experience, he hopes that the APC can be equipped with gears to clear blockages effectively and powered with tactical applications such as discharging multiple rounds of tear gas at the same time and installing computer operating systems so as to enhance coordination with the Specialised Crowd Management Vehicles to exert improved performance in operations.

He said emotionally, “Hong Kong has been developing steadily since the riot in 1967. I can’t imagine there can be such serious unrests in Hong Kong today. This riot is more strategic and organised than I expected. The actions of rioters tell us that they are no greenhorns or just any discontented citizens. The situation is extremely difficult to deal with as we have to stop violence and avoid injuring innocent citizens at the same time.”