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Jess Ma

Hong Kong’s police chief has again defended an officer’s decision to shoot an armed, mentally ill man who later died, saying officers need to follow guidelines regardless of the condition of those involved.
Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee was responding on Monday to complaints by the man’s widow that the actions of officers against her husband, a regular psychiatric patient, were “unacceptable”.
Siu said the public should not label mentally ill patients, stressing the officer concerned had been preliminarily found to have complied with internal guidelines on firearms use.
“We should not label those who are mentally ill. In this incident, no matter if the person has mental illness or not, we will still follow our relevant firearms and use of force guidelines to act accordingly,” Siu said after attending an event.
He said the officer had made his decision based on the relevant guidelines.
“Our guidelines on the use of firearms [stipulate] that our aim is to avoid anyone, including our colleagues and third parties, from suffering from serious injury and potential death,” Siu said.
“Our colleague made his decision based on the relevant guidelines in a bid to prevent serious injury.”

He said officers received regular training on the appropriateness of firearms use in different scenarios.
The incident happened on September 15, when police responded to a report from a woman, 41, who said her husband was assaulting her and his 68-year-old mother at their rooftop flat on Kam Ping Street in North Point.
Officers wielding shields arrived at the scene and found the man, 38, holding a 30cm-long knife and a pair of scissors. Police said they confronted him and told him to put his weapons down.
Despite repeated warnings, the man lashed out and attempted to attack one of the officers, according to the force.
Police previously said one officer had “no choice” but to shoot at the man from a distance of about 1.5 metres, hitting him in the chest, after he failed to heed repeated verbal warnings.
The man was taken to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, where he later died.
His widow said on Sunday that the officers could have negotiated or tried to persuade him if he was emotional. She said she had not expected them to shoot him dead.
“I very much regret that I called the police,” she said after filing a formal complaint with the force with the husband’s elder brother.
She said remained unconvinced by the police explanation that officers were left with no other choice but to open fire.
“Police officers are trained professionals. If [my husband] was emotional, they could try to persuade him, or negotiate with him, or get other professionals’ help,” she said.
“Even if attacked, they could choose to retreat, or they could have shot his arm or abdomen.”
Siu on Monday also offered his “sincerest condolences” to the man’s family, saying the Complaints Against Police Office would handle their complaint “in accordance with existing procedures and fairly”.
He also defended the officer last Thursday, when he described the shot as “decisive” for a scenario that “happened in a flash”.
“Let us all imagine if a criminal had dashed towards you with a lethal weapon at hand, if our colleagues were on-site, would you rather have him make a decisive act to stop him or try to negotiate with him?” Siu said.


This story has been updated to reflect that the shooting incident took place on September 15.


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Crime in Hong Kong

The man’s widow and brother formally complained about the shooting on Sunday. Photo: Handout

Police chief Raymond Siu. Photo:  May Tse

The deceased’s widow (right) spoke to reporters outside police headquarters after filing a formal complaint. Photo: Handout

Police last Sunday responded to a report from a woman saying her husband was assaulting her and the man’s 68-year-old mother at their rooftop flat on Kam Ping Street, North Point. Photo: Jelly Tse

What are Hong Kong police’s gun rules and how did officer end up fatally shooting man?

Hong Kong police must undergo training to fully understand the legitimate uses of force. Photo: May Tse

The Police General Orders state that officers may shoot to protect anyone, including themselves, from death or serious injury. Photo: May Tse

Outside the Kam Ping Street site. Police have defended the officer’s decision to shoot the suspect. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong police officer acted professionally to fatally shoot armed man, force says

The man had a knife and a pair of scissors when he was dashing towards officers, police said. Photo: Google Maps

Superintendent Sin Kwok-ming says the man showed signs of recently having a mental illness relapse. Photo: Handout

The injured man was taken to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, where he later died. Photo: Nora Tam

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu responds to complaints by widow that officers’ action against her husband were ‘unacceptable’


Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu responds to complaints by widow that officers’ action against her husband were ‘unacceptable’.


Hong Kong police

Mental health

Crime

Hong Kong society