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Officers keep cool amid 'chaos'
- 8 police injured in flurry of violence
 Courage under fire: Hotel Company officers hold their ground, defending with pepper spray as a rioting villager gets set to hurl an LP gas cylinder. Pic: The Sun |
Police Tactical Unit officers who successfully extracted a group of Shek Wu Sun Tsuen villagers have been applauded for their bravery and professionalism shown in the face of fierce attack.
Eight officers were injured when villagers resisted the November 16 clearance operation and turned violent. Hotel Company officers were sent in to maintain order and assist in the clearance only to face a barrage of Molotov cocktails, liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, home-made metal and wooden spears, and rocks.
Several villagers were also armed with knives and even a machete. Some 14 people were arrested during the three-hour confrontation. New Territories North Regional Commander Ng Wai-kit hailed the job of the officers.
"They exercised maximum restraint amidst the most violent resistance with weapons and gas cylinders being thrown around, there were fires and there was a danger of an explosion," Mr Ng said.
 Armadillo shield: Officers keep cool and advance forward despite a barrage of resistance. Pic: Sing Tao |
"It could have been a deadly situation but I was very pleased to see such a high level of professionalism and courage shown by the officers who controlled the situation preventing serious injuries to all parties. All officers involved must be complimented."
Mr Ng visited the injured officers including Police Constable Wong Kwok-wai who spent several days in North District Hospital with an arm injury. Tai Po District Commander To Ho-kee described the violence as "chaotic".
Although initially restrained to using only pepper spray and CS foam, three CS gas canisters and five CS gas grenades later had to be used. The clash was reported prominently in the press with most editorials denouncing villagers' violence and praising police restraint and bravery. Similar sentiments were echoed by callers and hosts of radio talk shows and community leaders.
The other injured officers were: Sergeants Tsang Kam-tim and Li Yiu-man; and, PCs Tung Man-chi, Chan Tat-wing, Kwok Tsz-ki, Wong Kin-fai and Hui Wai-keung.
 RC NTN Ng Wai-kit visits injured PC Wong Kwok-wai and shares a laugh |
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