Special Tactical Contingent

In response to the Occupy Central Movement the police established the Special Tactical Contingent in September 2014 when the PTU suffered from heavy blockade or obstruction. Examples were obstacle removal, conducting arrests, providing first aid, etc..

The media reported that the police had not officially named the contingent commonly known as the Raptors and that instead it was referred to by the police as the Elite Team or Removal Team.{{cite news |title=藍衣軍正名「特別戰術小隊」 |url=http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20141201/00407_026.html |work=The Sun |date=1 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204051534/http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20141201/00407_026.html |archive-date=4 December 2014 |language=Chinese|trans-title=The Blues are known as the "Special Tactical Squad"}}{{cite news |title=警明清場Elite Team為主力 |url=http://www.singpao.com/xw/gat/201412/t20141210_540496.html |work=Sing Pao Daily News |date=10 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924122159/http://www.singpao.com/xw/gat/201412/t20141210_540496.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |language=Chinese}}

On 1 December 2014, the media reported that the contingent had recently been officially named as the Special Tactical Squad by the head of the Police Tactical Unit, however, days later another media outlet reported that this name was used but not official yet.{{cite news |title=飛虎加入速龍小隊 加強清障能力 |url=http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20141211/00176_002.html |work=Oriental Daily News |date=11 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220055708/http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20141211/00176_002.html |archive-date=20 December 2014 |language=Chinese}}

The official English name the Special Tactical Contingent was first used by the police in a police publication in an article in Offbeat newspaper in 2016 and was used again the following year in the 2017 Police Review and in proceeding years.{{cite news|title=IPCC VISITS PTU HQ|url=https://www.police.gov.hk/offbeat/1065/eng/4099.html|accessdate=24 March 2021|work=Offbeat – the electronic newspaper of the Royal Hong Kong Police|issue=1065 – June 22, 2016 – July 7, 2016|publisher=Hong Kong Police Force}}{{cite web |title=Hong Kong Police Review 2019 – Operations |url=https://www.police.gov.hk/info/review/2019/en/hkpf_eng04.html |website=Hong Kong Police Force |access-date=24 March 2021}}{{cite web |title=Hong Kong Police Review 2017 – Operations |url=https://www.police.gov.hk/info/review/2017/en/hkpf_eng04.html |website=Hong Kong Police Force |access-date=24 March 2021}}

Despite the use of the official name from 2016, protesters and the media continued to use the name Special Tactical Squad for the contingent.

The contingent is a small unit with members drawn from several permanent units to perform duties on an ad hoc basis under the command of the Police Tactical Unit.

Members are drawn from the Police Tactical Unit (PTU) Headquarters, Counter Terrorism Response Unit, Airport Security Unit, Special Duties Unit and the all-female Tango Coy.{{sfn|Independent Police Complaints Council|2020b|p=110}}

Contingent members return to their permanent unit after completing ad hoc tasks. The contingent operates in teams of five members with the team leader either the rank of Sergeant or Inspectorate.{{sfn|Independent Police Complaints Council|2020b|p=110}}

The STC would also conduct observational and command related tasks, to ensure and review the Police Tactical Unit's use of force and tactics are appropriate, to further improve from past events.

{{main|2014 Hong Kong protests}}

The name of the police operation for the protests was Operation Solarpeak.[http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20141202/00176_007.html Protesters and the Speedy Dragons] "Oriental Daily" 2/12/2014[http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20141202/00407_010.html Protesters and the Speedy Dragons] "The Sun, Oriental Daily" 2/12/2014[https://www.police.gov.hk/offbeat/1033/eng/2415.html CP and SDG members thank officers for contributing to Operation SOLARPEAK] "Offbeat" 1033rd Publication[https://www.police.gov.hk/offbeat/1025/eng/ CP encourages officers engaged in Operation SOLARPEAK] "Offbeat" 1025th Publication

File:Umbrella Revolution Police clear Roadblock in Queensway 20141014.jpg|STC in Queensway rapidly removing obstacles.

File:Special Unit Cleaning Admiralty 20141211.jpg|STC & PTU in Queensway rapidly removing obstacles.

File:Umbrella movement Mong Kok clearance 07.JPG|PTU creating a blockade the Mong Kok Occupied Area, while STC officers push the mobile platform.

File:Umbrella movement Mong Kok clearance 30.JPG|2 STC officers standing on the mobile platform.

File:Umbrella movement Mong Kok clearance 31.JPG|Closeup of a STC officer standing on the mobile platform.

File:Special Tactical Squad Cleaning CWB 20141215.jpg|STC in Causeway Bay rapidly removing obstacles.

{{main|2016 Mong Kok civil unrest}}

On 9 February evening, 2016, in an escalation of the civil unrest, protesters changed their tactics, overwhelming the Hong Kong Police Force, and the Special Tactical Contingent were deployed as a result.

They arrived at the intersection of Soy Street and Sai Yeung Choi Street South at 4:30 am, where they quickly cleared protesters. However, after 5 minutes, due to the lack of reinforcements, they were forced to retreat, with one constable injured{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}.

File:Special Tactical Squad clear Sai Yee Street 20160208.jpg|STC in Sai Yee Street creating a riot blockade.

Protests were held from 6 to 8 November 2016 during the interpretation of the Basic Law.{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Venus |last2=Wong |first2=Sue-Lin |title=China moves to bar Hong Kong activists as fears grow over intervention |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-china-politics-idUSKBN13204P |access-date=3 April 2021 |work=Reuters |date=7 November 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Tsang |first1=Emily |last2=Lo |first2=Clifford |title=2,000 Hong Kong police ready round the clock as protests over Beijing's ruling on Basic Law loom |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2043655/2000-hong-kong-police-ready-round-clock-protests-over |access-date=3 April 2021 |work=South China Morning Post |date=7 November 2016|url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |last1=Yeung |first1=Raymond |last2=Mok |first2=Danny |last3=Lo |first3=Clifford |last4=Cheung |first4=Elizabeth |title=Four arrested after violence at thousands-strong rally over Beijing's review of Basic Law |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2043425/thousands-hongkongers-join-protest-march-against-beijings |access-date=3 April 2021 |date=6 November 2016|url-access=subscription}}

{{Main|2019–20 Hong Kong protests}}

Squads were deployed to disperse the crowds after clashes between the protesters and the police started.

During some of the protests in August, protesters threw Molotov cocktails, bricks, metal pipes etc., and the squads deployed tear gas canisters, rubber bullet, beanbag rounds to disperse them.{{Citation needed|reason=Your explanation here|date=April 2021}} Live-fire weapons were also deployed.{{cite news |title=警武器升級 疑飛虎狙擊手戒備 |url=http://www.mingpaocanada.com/tor/htm/News/20191119/HK-gae2_r.htm |access-date=14 April 2021 |work=Ming Pao Daily News |date=19 November 2019 |language=Chinese}}

Many of the officers were accused for using excessive force during arrests and while dispersing the protesters. Most notably during the 2019 Prince Edward station attack and the siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.{{Citation needed|reason=Your explanation here|date=April 2021}}

Apple Daily and New Tang Dynasty Television reported that SDU operators disguised as protesters provoked fights with protestors in order for them to be arrested.{{Cite web|url=https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20190811/VMC4SCHJG5UX36S5DU74OV64TA/|title=飛虎扮示威者挑打鬥再拉人|last=|first=|date=11 August 2019|work=Apple Daily|accessdate=25 March 2021|language=Chinese|archive-date=6 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706044928/https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20190811/VMC4SCHJG5UX36S5DU74OV64TA/|url-status=dead}} Newtalk reported that SDU operators disguised as protestors committed illegal acts such as setting fire on the street as part of a false flag operation.{{cite news |title=銅鑼灣放火暴徒 網友肉搜竟是飛虎隊假扮的 |url=https://newtalk.tw/news/view/2019-08-12/284815 |access-date=24 March 2021 |work=Newtalk |date=12 August 2019 |language=Chinese}}

A report by Amnesty International singled out the Special Tactical Contingent and riot police for "the worst abuses" of excessive force during the 2019–20 protests, noting that[https://web.archive.org/web/20191117042335/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/09/hong-kong-arbitrary-arrests-brutal-beatings-and-torture-in-police-detention-revealed/ Hong Kong: Arbitrary arrests, brutal beatings and torture in police detention revealed] "amnesty.org" 19 September 2019

"almost every arrested person interviewed described being beaten with batons and fists during the arrest, even when they were not resisting and often already restrained," along with multiple hospitalizations.

Officers initially wore a dark blue PTU uniform.{{cite news |title=藍衣警獲正名「特別戰術小隊」 |url=https://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20141201/00176_006.html |access-date=14 April 2021 |work=Oriental Daily News |date=1 December 2014 |language=Chinese|trans-title=Blue uniformed unit officially named "Special Tactical Squad"}}{{sfn|Independent Police Complaints Council|2020b|p=111}}

Each officer attached a team call-sign with velcro to the back of their helmet for example “3-1”.{{sfn|Independent Police Complaints Council|2020b|pp=111–112}} There was no Force requirement for a STC member to attach their service number or rank to their uniform although some officers did.{{cite news |title=【逃犯條例】6·12速龍小隊制服無警員編號 民權觀察：2016年制服有編號 |url=https://news.mingpao.com/ins/%E6%B8%AF%E8%81%9E/article/20190619/s00001/1560944306324/%E3%80%90%E9%80%83%E7%8A%AF%E6%A2%9D%E4%BE%8B%E3%80%916-12%E9%80%9F%E9%BE%8D%E5%B0%8F%E9%9A%8A%E5%88%B6%E6%9C%8D%E7%84%A1%E8%AD%A6%E5%93%A1%E7%B7%A8%E8%99%9F-%E6%B0%91%E6%AC%8A%E8%A7%80%E5%AF%9F-2016%E5%B9%B4%E5%88%B6%E6%9C%8D%E6%9C%89%E7%B7%A8%E8%99%9F |access-date=14 April 2021 |work=Ming Pao |date=19 June 2019 |language=Chinese}}{{sfn|Independent Police Complaints Council|2020b|p=112}}

During the 2016 Mong Kok civil unrest, the police found that the PTU uniform was not suitable for the contingent.{{sfn|Independent Police Complaints Council|2020b|p=111}}

A new black uniform together with protective armor was sourced from overseas in November 2016 and approved in January 2017.{{sfn|Independent Police Complaints Council|2020b|p=111}} The new uniform was first used in operations on 9 June 2019.{{sfn|Independent Police Complaints Council|2020b|p=112}} There was no requirement to attach their service number to their uniform although some officers attached it.{{sfn|Independent Police Complaints Council|2020b|p=112}}

From 28 June 2019, each officer attached to their helmet, in addition to the team call-sign, a sticker with a letter known as a Alpha ID to identify individual members of the team for example letters “a” to “e” if the team consists of 5 members.{{sfn|Independent Police Complaints Council|2020b|p=113}}

The Alpha ID was not unique to the officer and would be returned if an officer was no longer assigned to the STC and reissued to another officer.

In November 2020, the High Court found that the failure of the Commissioner of Police to establish and maintain a system to ensure that each police officer could be uniquely identified and that officers wear and prominently display a unique identification number or mark violated Article 3 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.{{cite web |title=Summary of Judgment – 陳基裘 v Hong Kong Police Force ("Police"); 郭卓堅 & 梁頌恆 v Secretary for Security & Commissioner of Police ("CP"); Yeung Tsz Chun v CP; Chan Kung Shun & Lo Cham Sze & Ng Hong Luen v CP; The Hong Kong Journalists Association ("HKJA") v CP & Secretary for Justice |url=https://www.doj.gov.hk/en/notable_judgments/pdf/HCAL_1747_1753_2671_2703_2915_2019e.pdf |website=Department of Justice |publisher=The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region |access-date=14 April 2021 |date=November 2020}}

Officers attached a fluorescent stick (including yellow or red colours, depending on their team) to their helmet at night time for easier recognition by a commanding officer.

{{More citations needed section|date=April 2021}}

File:Umbrella movement Mong Kok clearance 30.JPG Reclamation Street)]]

File:21' ASP Baton.jpg

File:Special_Tactical_Squad_use_the_weapons_20190921.jpg

• Handcuffs
• Cable ties
• First aid kits
• Megaphone
• Wire cutters
• Electric drill
• Spinal board
• Tactical boots
• Space blanket
• Anti-cut gloves, uses 3M materials, used to carry and remove obstacles.[http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20150309/00176_002.html Anti-cut Gloves] "Oriental Daily" 9 March 2015
• Mobile Platform, 4 officers are in charge of protecting and pushing the platform, alongside 2 officers on the platform to observe, conduct forensic filming, announce, command, etc.[http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20141126/00176_005.html OC Spray and Pepper Spray] "Oriental Daily" 26 November 2014

• Police Tactical Unit (Hong Kong)
• Special Duties Unit

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Special Tactical Squad}}

Category:Hong Kong Police Force units