Explainer | What are Hong Kong police’s gun rules and how did officer end up fatally shooting man?
The Post looks at how guidelines compare with other jurisdictions and recent cases such as officer’s shooting of man on Peng Chau last year
A Hong Kong policeman on Sunday shot dead an armed man who allegedly ignored repeated warnings and advanced towards officers after attacking his wife and mother in North Point.
The force has defended the decision to open fire on the suspect, who had a history of mental illness, saying the officer acted professionally and was left with no other choice.
Here is what you need to know about police guidelines on using firearms and other notable cases in Hong Kong when officers have shot suspects.
1. What happened this time?
Superintendent Sin Kwok-ming said in a briefing early on Monday that the man in the North Point case was wielding a knife and a pair of scissors when he ran towards officers.
Police had attended the flat on Kam Ping Street at around 9.19pm on Sunday after they received reports the man was attacking his family.
An officer with eight years of experience shot the suspect after he allegedly ignored repeated warnings during a 30-second stand-off at a distance of about 1.5 metres (5 feet).
The man was taken to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, where he later died.
