Honored police dedicated to safeguarding law and order

Valiant efforts of the Hong Kong Police Force in combating the violent rioting last year were recognized by the city’s residents and in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s newly released annual honors list — with 94 officers among the recipients, making up 14 percent of the honors bestowed by the city’s leader.

Police officers receiving the medals said they are delighted and honored to have been given the medals, but believe the force will remain steadfast in its duty of safeguarding law and order, with or without recognition.

On Thursday, the HKSAR government handed out a record 687 awards in its 2020 honors list — the most since the system’s launch in 1997, eclipsing the previous high of 444 in 2009. The government said it handed out an “exceptionally large” number of honors this year — to recognise those who have been combating the violent protests and COVID-19 pandemic over the past year.

In the second half of 2019, Hong Kong was plagued by prolonged street violence. Despite facing the growing challenges of incessant citywide violence, and 600 officers being injured, the police officers went above and beyond the call of duty to safeguard law and order.

Former police commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung, who retired last November, was awarded a Gold Bauhinia Star for “loyal and distinguished service to the government and the Hong Kong community”. The government said Lo led the force to rise to countless challenges, uphold the rule of law and maintain Hong Kong as one of the safest and most stable societies in the world.

Twelve police officers were also awarded bravery medals for “acts of tremendous courage” in executing their duties despite being “assaulted ferociously by the rioters”.

One of them is Brandon Wong Ka-lun, senior inspector of police. He was awarded a Medal for Bravery (Bronze) this year. Wong told China Daily that the medal carries with it a much deeper meaning to him as the police force sacrificed blood, sweat and tears to tackle last year’s riots.

“It is like a recognition to our contribution over the past tough year,” Wong said. “In the face of so many life-threatening challenges, all officers have gritted our teeth and keep going on, because we all know this is our duty, to restore law and order for our residents and community.”

In August 2019, Wong was attacked by a radical who fired a metal marble at him with a slingshot, rupturing his lower lip and breaking one of his teeth. Despite still missing a tooth, Wong has no regrets about joining the force because he says getting injured during such an operation is inevitable.

“No matter what injuries I get, or smear campaign I face, I still see serving as a police officer as a great honor,” Wong said, adding that the medal has motivated him to continue performing his duties professionally.

After Wong’s injury, he left the Emergency Unit and is currently working in the social media team which is responsible for shooting live videos during protests. Wong said he believed social media is another crucial front to protect residents from blatant rumours.

“Nowadays, there are many biased, one-sided media reports misleading residents into believing that the police are using excessive force to handle the riots. It is not true,” Wong said, adding that he believes his new position will allow him to increase residents’ confidence in the police.

Police station sergeant Lam Chi-wai, was also awarded the Hong Kong Police Medal for Meritorious Service in recognition of his exemplary and devoted service in Hong Kong for over 35 years.

Lam, who is also chairman of the Junior Police Officers’ Association, said that he is very happy to be one of the award recipients and he will continue to lead the junior officers to serve the community.

As for other police awardees, Lam said the officers “very much deserve” their accolades. “They had made such selfless dedication, devoting their personal safety and precious time spent with their family members,” Lam said.

Lam said he believes most fair-minded residents acknowledge the police’s professionalism in handing crazed rioters bent on violence and destruction, so the recognition doesn’t “matter all that much” to the whole force.

He said the greatest hope of most officers is to safeguard the safety of each resident, and help Hong Kong to regain its reputation as one of the safest cities in the world, adding that the implementation of the National Security Law has tremendously boosted police confidence in combating the violence.

Both Wong and Lam were required to be on duty on Thursday — the National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival — and could not be reunited with their family members.

Lam said this has been the case for more than 20 years, but he is proud to be a police officer, and vowed to build a better Hong Kong for the next generation.

Tammy Chan, a 42-year-old bank manager, said she has been deeply impressed by police officers’ fearlessness and determination to protect residents over the past year’s “black violence”. She is thrilled to learn that so many have won awards this year and described it as “a sign that justice has been done”.