(Ta Kung Pao reporter Huang Haohui and the emergency team) In order to deal with the possible black violence in the future and prevent the mob from attacking the citizens and the police, the police introduced a new low-lethal weapon "pepper ball launcher" from Switzerland. The police will carry out a three-month field test plan from the middle of this month. First, the front-line personnel of the Hong Kong Island Regional stormtroopers will be equipped with pepper ball launchers.

Yuan Yongkang, the superintendent of the Police Mobile Force Training School, said that the introduction of the "pepper ball launcher" was due to the blackout incident that began in 2019. At that time, many lawbreakers attacked the police, which eventually turned into a number of large-scale riots, resulting in the destruction of many traffic roads and property, as well as many police and citizens were attacked, and even their lives were threatened.

Yuan pointed out that in order to meet the needs of front-line police personnel, and with reference to overseas law enforcement departments, including Switzerland, the United States, Germany and Japan, the police force officially confirmed the "pepper ball launcher" as a low-lethal weapon in 2020, and subsequently provided training and use for front-line personnel, hoping to deal with the mob more effectively.

Blue dye stays on the skin for 30 minutes

Yuan Yongkang said that the "pepper ball launcher" was made in Switzerland and its body was orange, highlighting that it was a low-lethal weapon, which was mainly used to attack specific targets at close range, and was equipped with a red spot launching device to enable front-line personnel to effectively aim. The ammunition fired was pepper powder, which was the same as the pepper spray used by the police force. It was pepper oleoresin, and could be fired four times after each shot, with an effective distance of up to seven meters, No penetration.

"Pepper ball launcher" is the first to be equipped by riot prevention personnel and front-line personnel of the Hong Kong Island stormtrooper team when on duty. The correct use of pepper water can make the police effectively subdue the mob. Pepper water can make the skin and mucous membrane have a stinging reaction. In addition to making the mucous membrane immediately swollen and the eyes closed, if inhaled, it will cause cough, skin and nose burning, and may also make people feel nauseous. The blue dye of pepper water will remain on the nails, skin and clothes, and the effect will dissipate after 30 to 45 minutes, and will not cause permanent damage to the "medium pepper".

Yuan pointed out that the field test will start on the 17th of this month and last for three months until the end of January 15 next year. The participating units are the stormtroopers of the Hong Kong Island General District. At that time, the vehicles of the stormtroopers of the four police districts of Hong Kong Island will be equipped with a "pepper ball launcher".

Precision strike is not affected by wind and rain

Asked why they chose the Hong Kong Island General District stormtroopers to use "pepper ball launchers", Yuan Yongkang said that there are many bars in Hong Kong Island, among which the bars in Wanchai and Central District often have violent incidents, so that the front-line police can use this new weapon when dealing with such violent cases, which can more effectively control the situation at the scene; The advantage of the "pepper ball launcher" is that it can be used both indoor and outdoor. Unlike the previous pepper spray, which is vulnerable to wind and rain, it can more accurately attack the mob.