Hong Kong Police Officer Fires Warning Shot As Violence Escalates In Pro-Democracy Protests

For the first time in 12 weeks of unrest, a Hong Kong police officer fired a warning shot into the air to thwart protesters chasing him and other police officers with metal pipes.

The gunfire occurred at Tsuen Wan, the primary site of Sunday’s demonstrations against the government, and marks a significant escalation in the police's response to the violent protests which have seen several officers injured so far.

Prior to the warning shot, about 10 police officers had gone to Tsuen Wan District, one of 19 Hong Kong districts located in the “New Territories” about 10 kms to the north of Hong Kong. They had received calls that protesters were vandalizing shops in Yi Pei Square and Sam Pei Square, two of four “squares” that are restaurant, shopping and pleasure areas in the district.

The protesters had smashed glass doors and windows in two mahjong parlors and were admonishing the staff inside. The Yi Pei Square community is known to have a significant number of Fujianese residents who are perceived as being supporters of the government. This could explain the berating of the staff. The protesters attacked an arcade gaming center, prying open the roller gate and vandalizing exterior walls and video cameras.

Once the armed police had arrived, the wrath of the mob turned to the officers, who were equipped with only basic riot gear, and chased them bearing rods and pipes. The officers retreated to await better equipped back-up and it was at this point that a single gunshot was reported.

One report said that an Emergency Unit officer fired one shot from a .38 revolver for “warning purposes." Just before 9 p.m. Superintendent Leung Kwok-wing from New Territories South regional headquarters confirmed that an officer had fired a shot after he felt his life was under threat while confronting protesters.

While a cloak of mystery surrounds the shooting, what is known is that five officers were injured and sent to the hospital during the incident. What is also known is that six police officers who had retreated to await back up, at one point, drew and pointed their revolvers at the crowd of protesters and journalists. Later, some members of the media questioned a police public relations representative to find out why the officers would point their guns at them.

Previous incidents have occurred at this location in recent weeks. On Aug. 12, men dressed in white T-shirts attacked black-clad protesters. Community members were also said to be related to a knife attack against a protester on Aug. 5.

Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung visited injured officers at a hospital in Kwai Chung and expressed sadness about the officers being injured while they were performing their duties.