Page 56 - Chiron Calling Autum 2021/Spring 2022

A medal well earned
by Ka Man Koowetchai
An unprecedented anti-social riot started in Hong Kong
in June 2019. The reason being that in 2018, a man brought his girlfriend from Hong Kong to Taiwan and murdered her. The murderer then returned to Hong Kong. Due to historical issues,
Hong Kong and Taiwan do not have extradition legislation. Therefore, the Hong Kong government revised the extradition law, hoping to ensure the murderer returned to Taiwan to face justice. Sadly some sociopaths took this opportunity to set off a two-year riot in the former British Colony.
Dissidents began to scold each other on the street. Demonstrators began to occupy important infrastructure facilities such as
the airports, railways, and other transportation hubs to hinder day
to day activities. The rioters took
the opportunity to destroy public facilities in the city and literally beat people with differing opinions. The rioters occupied various universities as their base. They threw petrol bombs at passers-by, burned people with differing views with petrol, killed innocent citizens, shot the police with bows and arrows, threw corrosive liquid and petrol bombs, stabbed police officers in the neck and chest with knives, and attacked police quarters and police families, and even ordered firearms and ammunition
from overseas
in their fight
against the
Police.
Hong Kong police 24 years ago.
At this time, the society stopped functioning, and those on endless on-duty had to face immeasurable
difficulties. Many of the HK DASU veterans serving in the Hong Kong Disciplinary Services ‘(Including
Hong Kong Correctional Services, Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, Hong Kong Immigration Department) also
volunteered to join the ‘Secret Constable of Hong Kong Police’
to participate in many operations. Fortunately, during early 2021, the situation started to improve.
To this day, there are still many veterans in the disciplined services
of Hong Kong helping to maintain law and order in Hong Kong. We gather with veterans serving in the Hong Kong Disciplined Services to defend our homeland.
I was honoured along with other to be presented this medal noting my Service in such operations.
Since the establishment of the Police Force in its 176 years of history, the Tiderider Medal is
the first Police Medal for Special Operations to signify the collective efforts of the Force members involved in special operations.
I am proud to be a Police Office today still serving my community rather like I and many other did when we were part of the ’brother hood’ of the Hong Kong Defence Animal Support Unit RAVC.
With the
Covid 19 virus
raging all over
the world, in
addition to
participating in anti-riot operations, as a Police Officer I had have to deploy to carry out anti-epidemic work, brushing away with death every day. This is the most difficult time I have experienced since I left the British Army in 1997 to join the
The rioters took the opportunity to destroy public facilities in the city and literally beat people with differing opinions
54 / Chiron Calling