PTU HQ takes up 'unprecedented' challenge and commitment

In the two years leading up to HKMC, the Police Tactical Unit Headquarters (PTU HQ) undertook an "unprecedented" challenge and commitment. As soon as it learned that Hong Kong would host HKMC, PTU HQ realised it had a very crucial role to play - to provide tactical training to officers performing various HKMC duties.

PTU HQ also provided security training to the staff of other stakeholders in both the public and private sectors - a job it rarely did in the past. And all these jobs were in addition to PTU HQ's scheduled regular training for officers.

PTU HQ's main jobs related to HKMC were designing the tactics to be used by officers, providing the related training, as well as identifying and supplying the equipment officers required. It also arranged for first aid training for selected officers, in conjunction with the Hospital Authority and the Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po.

PTU HQ started making preparations for its HKMC commitments as early as 2004. SP TRG PTU Wong Pui-cheong told OffBeat that the main preparation work, carried out in close liaison with the related Working Group, was to ascertain the types and scale of tactical training officers would require, design the training methods, and work out the training schedules.

"PTU HQ faced an unprecedented undertaking in 2005 as officers from different operational units, Tier 1, 2 and 3 Coys, Regional EUs, CID units, as well as officers on special duties, started arriving for their training. Training was even provided for Police Dog Handlers and their dogs," said Mr Wong.

At the same time, PTU HQ also provided training for representatives from other stakeholders, such as training on basic crowd management for staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and training on crowd control and use of shields for airport security staff.

8,000 man-days of training provided

"We provided a total of about 8,000 man days of HKMC-related training in 2005, and the training was of a very high standard. We also did our best to meet the requirements of Occupational Safety and Health for the trainees," said Mr Wong.

Mr Wong went on to say that as HKMC approached, the "Multi-Company Exercises" started in earnest at PTU HQ in October 2005. A total of seven exercises were held in a simulated setting of the Zone 2 in Wan Chai, each involving over 400 officers. Senior officers, including DCP OPS, D OPS, RCs and DCs, attended these exercises to encourage the officers.

In developing the tactics to be used by officers during HKMC, Mr Wong continued, PTU HQ made reference to those used by the Metropolitan Police in London and modified them to suit officers' specific operational needs. A major consideration for PTU HQ was using minimum force in dealing with protesters.

"The shield tactics we developed were capable of minimising the chance of officers getting hurt. We also emphasised the use of 'less-than-lethal' weapons, so the equipment we recommended was defensive rather than aggressive in dealing with protesters," Mr Wong disclosed.

In providing equipment and other necessary resources for officers, PTU HQ made sure that everything met officers' operational needs and was cost-effective.

After the opening of HKMC, PTU officers were tasked with the job of defending the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) - the conference venue, along with Police Dog Handlers and their dogs. For this job, it was "all on hands on deck" for staff of PTU HQ, including the Deputy Commandant, who performed various duties throughout HKMC.

"PTU HQ staff fully manifested the spirit of teamwork and commitment in first providing training for HKMC duties and then taking part in the Perimeter Defence Operation for the HKCEC," Mr Wong noted.

Lastly, Mr Wong is pleased that casualties, involving both officers and protesters, had been reduced to the minimum throughout HKMC. "This speaks for the fact that the tactics and equipment we used gave due regard to demonstrators' rights, while, at the same time, meeting our operational needs and protecting officers from unnecessary injuries in handling the demonstrators' various actions," he noted.

Crime Teams perform demanding task

Over 600 officers from the crime stream performed a very demanding task during HKMC, working side by side with uniformed officers on the frontline and at other strategic locations.

Drawn from different crime units across the Force, the officers formed a total of 53 Crime Teams deployed during HKMC, each comprising an inspector, two sergeants and eight police constables.

The Crime Teams were formed well before the opening of HKMC by a sub-working group of Hong Kong Island Crime Headquarters, comprising Chief Inspectors from each Region and Crime Wing.

The working group also defined the Crime Teams' specific duties, worked out their standard operation procedures, and arranged equipment, other resources, and special training for the team members.

"The Crime Team members received special training side by side with officers from Tier Teams at PTU HQ. This joint training was essential because both parties were required to work closely together with good co-ordination and rapport on the frontline," Chief Inspector of RCU I HKI, Miss Lee Nga-lai, told OffBeat.

Miss Lee pointed out that during HKMC the Crime Teams' main duties were gathering intelligence on the field, as well as preventing and investigating HKMC-related crime.

"What the officers had done can be divided into patrol of high risk locations or locations vulnerable to attacks by demonstrators, such as consulates, HKMC delegates' hotels and places of their meetings, collection of intelligence, provision of internal security support for uniformed officers on the frontline, process of arrested demonstrators at the Detained Persons Handling Area (DPHA) in Kwun Tong, provision of support to PHQ and investigation of crime," she said.

Acting Superintendent (Operations), Mr Lam Sai-kit, said the challenge for Crime Team members came in the small hours of last December 18 when they assisted in the biggest arrest operation the Force has ever seen, escorted the arrested demonstrators to the DPHA, processed the detainees, conducted investigations and gathered evidence. "During the whole process, they came under a lot of pressure and difficulties mainly because of the arrested persons' passive resistance. They worked continuously for nearly 40 hours!" he noted.

Miss Lee added that the officers' difficulties were compounded by the commotions which happened from time to time and the officers had to make swift responses on the spot. Facing a large number of detainees was another difficulty for the officers.

Said Mr Lam in conclusion: "Furthermore, the language barrier was a major challenge for every officer, no matter they were Tier Team members or Crime Team members. During the whole process, we adhered to the Force Values and did our best to process the over 1,100 detainees as fast as possible.

"The outcome wasn't the thing we would like to see, nevertheless officers had gone through very difficult and tough times when a major international event turned into a near-riot. After arrest actions, we handled investigations and the legal procedures without prejudice, and with impartiality and fairness."

SP Wong, a key player in provision of HKMC tactical training

Acting SP Lam and WCIP Lee emphasise that HKMC Crime Teams act with impartiality and fairness