The Hong Kong Police Force has said that an officer’s service weapon misfired at its Wan Chai headquarters on Tuesday afternoon, but no injuries were reported.
At around 3pm on Tuesday, an officer at the Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters was unloading his service weapon when the firearm was “suspected to have accidentally discharged,” firing a single round, according to a police spokesperson.
“No one was injured in the incident,” the spokesperson said on Tuesday. “The Police reiterated that the Force had strict rules on the use of equipment and the case is being followed up by the Hong Kong Island Region.”
The first batch of Hong Kong police officers began using mainland Chinese-made CF98-A and CS/LP5 semi-automatic handguns in July. The pistols were introduced to phase out the US-made Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver and SIG P250 pistol.
The CF98-A holds a 15-round magazine, chambered in 9-millimetre Parabellum. The CS/LP5, a compact variant, holds eight rounds of 9-millimetre ammunition.
Superintendent Ko Cheuk-hang of the police support wing said last year that the entire replacement would be “a long-term process” with 2,000 officers expected to be trained for the new weapons every year.
They must also pass a test to use the new pistols.
Chief Inspector Tang Che-leung from the weapons training division also said last year that the Chinese-made pistols had manual safety switches that would prevent misfires – a feature not found on the Smith & Wesson revolver.
