Life boys: PCs Lam and Law re-visit the rescue scene in North Point

Eastern District Commander Paul Hung Hak-wai praised the North Point Division pair for their bravery and devotion to duty after they jumped into the rough harbour on July 1 to save the emotionally-unbalanced man.

Mr Hung said he would extol the officers in a new and unusual way, printing photos of the rescue published in several newspapers, onto their commendation certificates.

"Other colleagues from the District will be invited to write captions for the photos which makes the officer's actions known to others and promotes the positive image of the Force while promoting the use of Chinese at the same time," Mr Hung said, adding it was the second occasion he had incorporated a newspaper clipping into an officer's commendation.

"It also shows the officers' good work is being recognised by the community and the media," he said.

The Patrol Sub-unit Four PCs, Stephen Law Sau-fat and Kaiser Lam Hoi-shuen, were instructed to go to a park outside the Provident Centre that day, where the man was found collapsed by a security guard.

Drunk and lying on the pavement, the man sat up when the PCs tried to check his identity but he refused any medical treatment or assistance. He became emotionally unstable and dashed onto North Point Road before the officers pulled him back from the traffic.

However, he then shot off towards North Point Pier and jumped into the harbour. PC Law handed his equipment to PC Lam and jumped after him. When other officers arrived, PC Lam also jumped in to help keep the man afloat.

Heavy swells made it difficult to pull him to the sea wall, but luckily a sampan soon passed and collected him while the two exhausted officers, sustaining minor abrasions, were later picked up by a police launch.

And it wasn't the first time the officers have had to get their feet wet. PC Law rescued a drowning man near Queen's Pier about seven years ago while PC Lam saved another man near the Western cargo handling area last July. Despite the difficulties this time around, the pair were pleased about the positive response from onlookers and the media.

"When we got back to shore, many onlookers applauded and some children even praised us.

"I felt great because our work was recognised by the public," PC Law said.



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