As well, another nine courageous officers receive the
award of the Governor's Commendations.
Mr Hui also presented the Royal Humane Society Award to
Constable Chan Wai-ming, who rescued a woman off the Star
Ferry pier last October.
Mr Tam Ka-fat who rescued four schoolchildren from the Pat
Sin Range fire on February 10, last year was also
posthumously awarded the Royal Humane Society Award. Since
Mr Tam died last July, his award was collected by his
mother, Ms Lee Mo-on
At the same ceremony, Mr Hui also presented the Imperial
Service Medals to Office Assistants Chau Kwan and Lo Che
in recognition of their outstanding and excellent services
to the Force in the past 47 and 35 years respectively. .
.
Police Constable Ma Ka-kuen
In 1995, Constable Ma was on motorcycle patrol when his
radio reported a fire in a Chai Wan housing estate.
Arriving at the scene before the emergency services, he
realised that two people, a young woman and a child, were
trapped on the fifth floor balcony of a blazing flat. He
was unable to reach the area because of dense smoke, so
he climbed out of an adjacent fourth floor flat and up and
across to the balcony of the burning apartment.
In spite of the danger of falling and the danger and
suffering caused by exposure to the heat and smoke,
Constable Ma remained clinging to the balcony of the
burning flat to comfort the trapped victims and lower their
body heat by spraying them with water from a hose passed
up to him from below.
He was ultimately relieved by firemen, and the trapped
woman and child were rescued alive.
Ma Ka-kuen displayed initiative, bravery and dedication
to duty of the highest order throughout the ordeal. The
role he played in comforting the trapped victims and
preventing the heat from enveloping their bodies was vital
in saving their lives.
Detective Police Constable Ma Hing-keung
In 1992, Detective Police Constable Ma Hing-keung was a
member of a police raiding party on premises at Li Tak
Street that was believed to be occupied by criminals
believed to be supplying vehicles to a gang responsible for
a number of armed robberies. Unknown to the police,
however, the flat was being used as a safe house by the
gang itself - who were armed with an arsenal of weapons
including an AK47 assault rifle, a shotgun, semi-automatic
pistols and hand grenades.
During the raid, Ma Hing-keung was tasked to wedge open
the door of the flat with a crowbar. When it opened, he
saw a man armed with a rifle and shouted a warning to his
colleagues. He was in an exposed position and was
immediately fired on from inside the flat - a bullet
grazing his head and causing profuse bleeding. He was
escorted downstairs and placed in a safe position while an
ambulance was summoned.
Meanwhile, the gang shot their way out of the flat and
down to the street level using their superior firepower.
DPC Ma saw the gang member armed with the AK47 appear on
the street. He then emerged from cover, and from a
completely exposed position five metres from the gunman
shouted loudly to distract the shooter's attention who was
firing at police officers. Ma also opened fire with his
revolver. He was then dragged back under cover by one of
his colleagues.
Having been wounded and evacuated from the initial
firefight, DPC Ma chose to engage the criminals a second
time, drawing automatic rifle fire and thereby saving his
fellow officers and members of the public from further
injury.
In the early morning hours of May 1996, Police Constable
Chow and a colleague challenged a group of five to six men
acting suspiciously in Kennedy Town, Western, Hong Kong.
The men immediately drew firearms and started to run away
while one of them retreated more slowly as if to cover the
escape by threatening the officers with an automatic
pistol. This man was later identified as the territory's
"Most Wanted" violent and dangerous criminal Yip Kai-foon.
A chase ensued with PC Chow and his colleague tracking
the gang with Yip repeatedly threatening the officers with
his gun. PC Chow was in the forefront of the chase where
on three occasions he was exposed to gunfire and threatened
by Yip. During the pursuit, Chow Hau-leung fired a total
of four shots, finally bringing Yip to a halt. However, he
then came under return fire until assistance arrived and
Yip was subdued.
Although Yip's associates escaped, the bag he was carrying
contained a loaded sub-machine gun, two magazines and
high-grade Chinese military explosive.
Throughout the incident, PC Chow demonstrated courage,
determination and self-control under the most stressful
circumstances by giving Yip and his gang members every
opportunity to surrender. Chow Hau-leung opened fire only
as a last resort - and when he believed his life was in
danger.
Chief Superintendent Trevor Oakes,
Detective Inspector Chan Sze-ki,
Sergeant Sit Shing-shun,
Detective Senior Constable Cheng Chung-ming and Detective
Constable Law Chung-shun are commended for their courage,
professional ability and devotion to duty. They exchanged
fire with five heavily armed criminals in Tai Kok Tsui in
April, 1992, resulting in the subsequent arrest of seven
persons.
Senior Constable Tam Kin-fung and Constable Chan Chi-sing
are commended for their courage and professionalism
displayed in the exchange of fire with five armed criminals
in Kennedy Town last year, resulting in the re-arrest of
the territory's most dangerous and wanted criminal Yip
Kai-foon.
Other recipients include Constable David Tse and Constable
Kwong Po-yuen who risked their lives this year in the
rescue of members of the public during a float parade
accident in Tsim Sha Tsui on Lunar New Year's Day.
(Also pictured is Constable Chan Wai-ming, who rescued a
woman off the Star Ferry pier last October). |
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