Policeman who defended himself by pointing shotgun at Hong Kong protesters among officers invited to Beijing celebrations for 70th anniversary of People’s Republic of China
- Officer, surnamed Lau, became hero in mainland China after July 30 incident when he was surrounded by protesters, despite criticism in Hong Kong
A Hong Kong policeman filmed pointing a shotgun at protesters who attacked him a month ago is among officers invited to attend a grand celebration for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Junior Police Officers’ Association (JPOA) chairman Lam Chi-wai confirmed an invitation had been sent to about 10 officers to join related celebration events in Beijing.
“It’s definitely not for the purpose of a united front,” Lam said. “It expresses our country’s high recognition of us … They are taking the opportunity to encourage us.”
The officer, surnamed Lau, pointed a Remington shotgun loaded with beanbag rounds at hundreds of protesters besieging Kwai Chung Police Station on the night of July 30. He was hailed as a hero by Chinese state media.
The incident prompted widespread criticism in the city, but police defended the officer’s actions by saying the sergeant was in fear of his life after being surrounded by protesters and losing his helmet.
“Our country is cheering up the Hong Kong police with the National Day celebration. I will just represent you guys by attending,” Lau said in a message circulated among the force, according to a police source.
The source said that injured police officers were also invited.
Lam said officers received similar invitations five years ago to celebrate the 65th anniversary, as the pro-democracy Occupy protests were taking place. The then JPOA chairman Joe Chan was among those invited.
Global Times, a nationalist tabloid published by Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, singled out Lau for praise. It said he raised his gun only because he had no other way to defend himself.
Tensions between protesters and police are intensifying as the city’s ongoing protests, sparked by the now-shelved extradition bill, have got more disorderly and violent.
Thousands attend #MeToo rally to accuse Hong Kong police of sexual violence
Police also confirmed the invitations to about 10 officers at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
“Some representatives from the force will attend the National Day events. They will include representatives of the management and frontline officers,” said Chief Superintendent John Tse Chun-chung of the police public relations branch.
“And of course, they will also include some of the frontline officers who have taken part in the operations in the past two months. There will be about 10 of them.”
Tse declined to say who would be on the list. “It is not only for police. Other public officials and members of the community are also invited,” he said, adding that it was not the first time representatives of the force were invited to attend celebratory events in Beijing.
In 2009, 212 representatives from the Hong Kong delegation led by then chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen went to Beijing to join celebration-related events for the 60th anniversary of the PRC from September 30 to October 2.
Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, former president of the Legislative Council, recalled in a recent article the special honour of being among 23 Hong Kong representatives invited to Tiananmen Tower to watch a celebratory parade with top leaders from the central government and foreign dignitaries on October 1.
The 23 included Donald Tsang and Tung Chee-hwa, former chief executive and vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Jasper Tsang said the delegation took part in other events such as the state banquet at the Great Hall of the People on September 30.
