Police say a 43-year-old man is in hospital after being shot by officers in Kwai Chung on Saturday morning.

According to police, the incident began just after midnight when officers received a report that a man was wandering near Tsuen Wan MTR station holding a sharp weapon.

Officers searched the area but were unable to locate anyone.

Around half an hour later, police received another report that a man armed with a weapon had been spotted on Cheung Wing Road in Kwai Chung. Again, officers found no one.

Then, at about 1 am, several drivers reported seeing a man walking along Castle Peak Road with a knife and a metal rod.

Senior Superintendent Iu Wing-kan said that as officers were searching the area, the man jumped out from the bushes and charged at them.

He said police immediately issued a verbal warning, and then used pepper spray when the warning proved ineffective.

"The man continued to charge towards our colleagues with the weapons he was carrying, shouting, 'I'll slash you'. At the same time, after the warning was ineffective, one of our emergency unit officers fired two shots at the man in an attempt to stop him," he said.

"After the shots were fired, the man did not cease his assault; he continued to chase after our colleagues, attempting to harm them with his sharp weapon.

"Then another emergency unit officer fired one shot, hoping to subdue him, but it still did not have the desired effect. Finally, our third emergency unit officer fired two shots at him, successfully subduing him."

Iu said that the shooting took place at a distance of approximately two to five metres and that the environment was well lit.

The suspect was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for surgery.

Iu described him as a 43-year-old construction worker who holds a Hong Kong identity card and has no prior criminal record.

Iu said he believed his colleagues had no other viable options and had issued ample warnings before making what he called a "difficult decision".



Edited by Robert Kemp