HK police will weather storm, emerge stronger

Hong Kong has been rocked by six months of violent protests, originally against the proposed amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, which have since been withdrawn. These protests have morphed into a general anti-government and anti-police movement.

Some attacks against people from the Chinese mainland and the frequent targeting of shops and businesses deemed to have mainland connections reveal an ugly side to the movement.

While there have been a number of peaceful demonstrations, many protests have degenerated into violence with attacks against police officers, assaults on citizens holding differing views and damage to property and the city's infrastructure.

It has been my privilege to have been an officer on the Hong Kong Police Force for over 27 years. Coming here after serving for several years as a police officer in London's Metropolitan Police, I was one of around 700 expatriate officers in the force in the early 1990s. Since overseas recruitment stopped in 1994, that figure is now down to only around 40, out of a total of about 31,000 police officers.

It has been a rewarding experience serving with so many committed local officers intent on maintaining their city as one of the safest places in the world.

Now in its 175th year, the force has been recognized as one of the finest in Asia, and, indeed, the world. It has a well-deserved reputation for professionalism, discipline and integrity. These qualities have been demonstrated on numerous occasions over the past six months as the police have been holding the line against mob violence and frequent rioting.

Masked radicals wearing their trademark black clothes have orchestrated chaos and violent attacks citywide. The Hong Kong police have become a primary target of the mobs.

The restraint shown by police has been remarkable, despite several violent attacks and intense provocation. None of us can forget the two incidents in June when the police headquarters was besieged by an ugly mob, or the despicable attack on police quarters, with hundreds of bricks, metal poles and other projectiles thrown while terrified families, including children and elders, were inside.

Hundreds of officers have been injured, some very seriously, with rioters using gasoline bombs, sharpened pieces of metal, corrosive fluid and, most recently, bows and arrows, to attack those tasked with upholding law and order.

Some of the attacks have been shocking. An officer had part of his finger bitten off while subduing a protester in Shatin on July 14. A police sergeant was viciously stabbed in the neck on October 13 by a radical, inflicting grievous injuries that require long-term medical care. Other officers have received burns when corrosive fluid was thrown at them.

In addition, thousands of officers have had their personal information abused by supporters of the black-shirt movement to become the subject of online abuse, which often includes threats and intimidation not only against them but also their family members.

The relentless tide of false information targeting the police, much of it facilitated by some partial media outlets, has also been a disturbing feature in the past six months. During this period, not one person has died as a direct result of police action. The force has been doing all it can to keep injuries to the minimum.

Only three violent protesters have been shot, all of whom were part of groups attacking exposed officers. Riot control tactics involve the use of lawful force, often in chaotic circumstances, and I do not pretend that the actions of the Hong Kong Police Force have been perfect. However, the officers have acted in good faith, with the sole intent of preventing serious violence and bringing offenders to justice.

Far-fetched claims of sexual assaults and "unexplained deaths" at the hands of police have been proved to have not one shred of credibility to them.

I have been involved in many operations in Kowloon, and it has been heartening to see an increasing amount of support from members of the public. People giving us thumbs-up represents the true and decent voice of Hong Kong, tired of months of chaos and violence on their streets.

More and more citizens have assisted us in clearing obstructions placed on roads, determined to restore normal life in the city. Despite the efforts of those engaged in violent, criminal activities, I am confident that the Hong Kong Police Force, supported by the overwhelming majority of citizens, will weather this period of turbulence and emerge stronger in due course.