“Now, whenever I look at photos of blood gushing out of my wound that day, I still cannot help feeling a searing pain in my wound. However, when compared to how I feel about the whole saga surrounding the extradition law amendment bill, I would say the heartbreak is a lot worse than the pain I have endured physically,” lamented Power Sir, who was attacked and injured while curbing riots on Hong Kong Island on July 1 this year.

About a year ago, the now 24-year-old Power Sir applied to join the Force immediately after graduation, because being a police officer had been his aspiration for years. He said, “When I was in school, I met a great mentor on the long-distance running team, who is serving as a Station Sergeant. Not only did he impart his running skills to me, his sense of justice as a police officer also rubbed off on me.”

This newly-minted Constable got his moniker “Power Sir” exactly because of his powerful physique. Last year, he was transferred to the Police Tactical Unit from a Uniform Branch unit. During the wave of violent protests against the extradition law amendment bill, Power Sir frequently fought at the forefront as an anti-riot police officer. When the attack happened, Power Sir had already been on duty for more than 24 hours. Yet, he still managed to unleash his power, rush to an illegal protester with all his might and arrest him. However, multiple rioters coming from all directions suddenly charged at Power Sir, in an attempt to snatch their accomplice from him. Amid the chaos, one of these rioters even stabbed Power Sir in his left shoulder with a sharp knife, severely injuring him.

However, no one can escape the long arm of the law. After the attack, the suspect planned to flee to the United Kingdom, but was arrested on the plane right before it was to take off. However, Power Sir did not delight in the arrest. He said, “The youngster involved in the case is my age. I just hope he can wake up to the truth behind this saga and become a better person, and that we all can bring order out of chaos in society as soon as possible.”

Welfare Officers in the Force had been keeping a close watch on Power Sir’s situation, and arranged for him to receive suitable medical treatment. Power Sir is tremendously grateful for the support provided by the Force, as well as the greeting cards and well wishes from kind-hearted individuals in society. What warmed Power Sir’s heart the most was a voice recording from the Commissioner commending him on his devotion to duty, while another surprise to him was how the news about his injury had been gaining traction in Mainland China.

Given that the blade had pierced into his scapular region, Power Sir was once told by his doctor that the injured area may never be as good as new, which may compromise his ability to exert force in future. Even so, Power Sir has full confidence in himself, and since his recovery has been promising, he is poised to resume his duties in October. He said, “In order to bolster the defence capabilities of frontline officers, the Force has specifically purchased a batch of locally-designed anti-riot gear equipped with a range of functions, making them anti-slash, flame-retardant, corrosive-resistant, etc. Plus, they are very lightweight. I can’t wait to return to my post and discharge my duties again.”