In response to the violence in Hong Kong, the police introduced a low-lethal "pepper water launcher", which can hold 4 rounds of pepper water agent and has an effective launching distance of 7 meters. It will be field-tested in the stormtroopers of the Hong Kong Island Region for 3 months from next Sunday (17). The police stressed that the new weapon will not cause permanent damage and will only cause irritation to the skin and mucous membrane without penetrating. The personnel will have strict guidance on the use of the weapon. We hope to provide more weapons use options.

Yuan Yongkang, the superintendent of the Police Mobile Force Training School, pointed out that the shape of the pepper water launcher produced in Switzerland was similar to the pistol, and its body was orange to highlight the low lethality, which was adopted by the law enforcement departments in Germany, Switzerland, the United States, Japan and other countries.

The launcher is mainly used to hit specific targets at close range. The ammunition is liquid pepper ball resin, which is not penetrating because it is not hit by hard objects. It will only cause skin and mucous membrane irritation, including skin burning, mucous membrane swelling, inability to open eyes, coughing and vomiting, etc., and is attached with blue dye. Once left on the skin and clothing, the effect will dissipate after 30 to 45 minutes, without permanent damage.

Yuan explained that the police guidance personnel aimed at the center of the body, and the water will splash on the face after hitting, causing a stimulating effect. The transmitter can achieve four consecutive shots. Generally speaking, for right-handed people, the pepper water transmitter will be installed on the left front chest of police officers to distinguish between low-lethal and lethal weapons. When asked whether a hit on the head would be fatal, Yuan did not disclose the minimum launch distance, which only refers to the manufacturer's guidance that can hit the head, but the police use the guidance more strictly, "training only aims at the center of the body", and when faced with threats, the police officers will use appropriate force according to professional judgment, just like using other weapons mechanisms, after using the transmitter, the police officers must also make a report.

Yuan pointed out that since social events triggered many acts of violence, the police force, in order to meet the needs of action, after confirming that pepper water launchers are low-lethal weapons, has successively arranged front-line use training, hoping to further promote the daily police work; Yuan also revealed that the transmitter is not limited to the use of police officers in self-defense. According to the actual situation, "it will be used in all scenes of violence", not excluding the use of it in public activities.

The target will help to clean after being controlled

The pilot plan will be carried out from Sunday to January 15 next year. The stormtroopers of the Hong Kong Island General District will be equipped when on duty. Each stormtrooper in the four police districts of Hong Kong Island will be equipped with a transmitter and an operator can use it. Due to the number of bars in Central and Wanchai, police officers in the district are more exposed to violence cases, so it is convenient to use new equipment when dealing with relevant incidents, which is helpful to evaluate the effectiveness. Depending on the plan data, the police will decide whether to extend it to the whole line.

At the same time, the police also set up cleaning guidelines. Once the target is confirmed to be under uniform, they will assist the other party in cleaning. First, move the target away from the infected place, wash away the irritants with a large amount of water in a ventilated place, relax as much as possible, take a deep breath, and reduce the tingling feeling.