Stephen Lo
{{distinguish|text=the Hong Kong and Macanese businessman Steven Lo}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{family name hatnote|Lo|Stephen Lo|Lo Wai-chung|lang=Hong Kong}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name=Stephen Lo Wai-chung
|honorific-suffix={{Post-nominals|country=HKG|size=100%|GBS|PDSM|PMSM|JP}}
| native_name = {{nobold|盧偉聰}}
| native_name_lang = zh-hk
|image=File:Stephen Lo Wai-chung 2015.jpg
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|df=yes|1961|11|19}}
|birth_place= Hong Kong
|office=Commissioner of Police
|1blankname1 = Chief Executive
|1namedata1 = Leung Chun-ying → Carrie Lam
|1blankname2 = Secretary for Security
|1namedata2 = Lai Tung-kwok → John Lee
|term_start = 5 May 2015
|term_end = 18 November 2019
|predecessor3 = Andy Tsang
|successor3 = Chris Tang
|alma_mater = University of Hong Kong (BSS)
| awards = Police Meritorious Service Medal (2009)
Police Distinguished Service Medal (2014)
}}
{{Chinese
|title=Stephen Lo Wai-chung
|t=盧偉聰
|s=卢伟聪
|j=Lou4 Wai5 cung1
|y=Lòuh Wáih chūng
|p=Lú Wěicōng
}}
Stephen Lo Wai-chung {{Post-nominals|country=HKG|GBS|PDSM|PMSM|JP}} ({{zh-t|盧偉聰}}; born 19 November 1961) is a Hong Kong retired law enforcement administrator. Lo joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1984 after his graduation from the University of Hong Kong with a bachelor of social science in management. He served as the Commissioner of Police of Hong Kong from 2015 to 2019, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Management) from 2013 to 2015, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) in 2013 and Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police from 2011 to 2013.
Biography
Lo attended the University of Hong Kong and received a Bachelor of Social Science with a major in management studies. After his graduation, Lo joined the Royal Hong Kong Police Force on 16 July 1984 as an inspector and was promoted to Senior Inspector on 1 November 1987. He worked at the Regional Crime Unit and Organised Crime and Triad Bureau. He is specialised in "criminal investigation, international liaison, service quality management, security and operational duties," according to the government official website. He also helped the police to develop the first-generation Major Incident and Disaster Support System.{{cite web|title=Mr Lo Wai-chung, Commissioner of Police|url=http://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/po/cp.htm|work=Hong Kong Government}}
In 1999, he was seconded to the Interpol General Secretariat in Lyon, France, initially as Liaison Officer. In 2001, he was promoted to assistant director of its Asia and South Pacific Branch.{{cite web |url=http://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/01_about_us/os_sofficers.html |title=Senior Officers|date=February 2016 |publisher=The Hong Kong Police Force |access-date=20 February 2016}} Lo returned to Hong Kong in 2003 to take the position of senior superintendent in the Service Quality Wing and the Complaints Against Police Office and was then promoted to chief superintendent in the Security Wing and Deputy Regional Commander in Kowloon West. In 2009, he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Security Wing. He held the position for two years until he was appointed Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Crime and Security Wing in 2011. On 13 August 2013, he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) in 2013 and then became Deputy Commissioner of Police (Management) in September 2013.
Lo has also completed a few overseas training programmes, including the command course for police chiefs from the Chinese People's Public Security University in 2004, a management course for senior government officials from Harvard University in 2007, and a leadership development programme from the National Executive Institute of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States in 2010. He also obtained a master's degree in Risk, Crisis & Disaster Management.
He was awarded the Police Meritorious Service Medal in 2009 and the Police Distinguished Service Medal in 2014.
On 4 May 2015, the State Council of the People's Republic of China appointed Lo Commissioner of Police, succeeding Andy Tsang Wai-hung.{{cite news |last=Li |first=Shadow |date=5 May 2015 |title=New commissioner vows to fight tech crimes, terrorism |url=http://www.chinadailyasia.com/hknews/2015-05/05/content_15259133.html |newspaper=China Daily |location=Hong Kong |access-date=20 February 2016 }} He was criticised as "soft" and "feeble" by frontline officers after he announced an investigation into the firing of two warning shots by a police officer during the 2016 Mong Kok civil unrest.{{cite news|title=Angry Hong Kong police criticise 'feeble' senior management over Mong Kok riot arrangements|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1912259/angry-hong-kong-police-criticise-feeble-senior-management|newspaper=South China Morning Post|date=11 February 2016|first1=Jasmine|last1=Siu|first2=Christy|last2=Leung}}
On 15 February 2017, Lo stated that he was "saddened" by the guilty verdict of seven police officers who were found guilty of assaulting the pro-democracy activist Ken Tsang during the Occupy Central protests.{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2071179/hong-kong-police-chief-saddened-conviction-seven-officers|title=Hong Kong police chief 'saddened' by conviction of seven officers in Occupy assault case|publisher=SCMP|date=15 February 2017|accessdate=4 February 2019}}
In November 2019, Lo retired as Commissioner of Police amidst criticisms of the police's handling of the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/11/18/world/asia/18reuters-hongkong-protests-police.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=18 November 2019 |accessdate= 18 November 2019 |title= China's State Council Appoints New Police Chief in Hong Kong}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3038106/no-fanfare-no-farewell-dinner-hong-kong-police-chief|title=No fanfare or farewell dinner as police chief makes a quiet exit|date=2019-11-18|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2019-11-19}}
In August 2020, Lo and ten other officials were sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury under Executive Order 13936 by President Trump for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy.{{cite news |title=US sanctions Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, police chief and 9 other top officials for 'undermining autonomy' |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2020/08/07/breaking-us-sanctions-hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-police-chief-and-other-top-officials-for-undermining-autonomy/ |accessdate=7 August 2020 |work=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |date=7 August 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Macias |first1=Amanda |title=U.S. sanctions Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam for carrying out Chinese 'policies of suppression' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/07/us-sanctions-hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam.html |accessdate=7 August 2020 |work=CNBC |date=7 August 2020 |language=en}}{{cite web |url= https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1088 |publisher= United States Department of the Treasury |title= Treasury Sanctions Individuals for Undermining Hong Kong’s Autonomy |date=7 August 2020 |accessdate=7 August 2020}}
On 10 February 2021, Carrie Lam awarded Lo the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service for his "significant contribution to combatting the social disturbance in 2019 and safeguarding national security".{{cite web |title=CE commends seven serving and retired senior police officers (with photos) |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202102/10/P2021021000566.htm |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=10 February 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-civ|pol}}
{{s-bef|before=Andy Tsang}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commissioner of Police of Hong Kong |years=2015–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=Chris Tang}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lo, Stephen}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Hong Kong
Category:Government officials of Hong Kong
Category:Hong Kong Police commissioners
Category:Individuals sanctioned by the United States under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act