Special Tactical Contingent

The Special Tactical Contingent (STC; Chinese: 特別戰術小隊), nicknamed the "Raptors" (Chinese: 速龍小隊), commonly known as the Special Tactical Squad (STS), is a specialist riot contingent of the Hong Kong Police Force under the command of the Police Tactical Unit (PTU).[1][2][3]

Special Tactical Contingent
特別戰術小隊 (Chinese)
ActiveSeptember 2014 - present
Country
AgencyHong Kong Police Force
RoleRiot control
Public security
Part ofPolice Tactical Unit
Common name
  • Special Tactical Squad
  • Raptors
  • Elite Team
  • Removal Team
AbbreviationSTC
Notables
Significant operation(s)
Special Tactical Contingent removes obstacles from Tamar Street in Hong Kong

It was created in September 2014 in response to Occupy Movement protests with its main tasks being crowd control and riot control, including when the PTU suffered from heavy blockade or obstruction. Examples were obstacle removal, conducting arrests, providing first aid, etc.

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.

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 "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.[4]

History

In response to the Occupy Central Movement the police established the Special Tactical Contingent in September 2014.[1] 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.[5][6] 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.[5][7] 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.[8][9][10] Despite the use of the official name from 2016, protesters and the media continued to use the name Special Tactical Squad for the contingent.

Structure

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.[1] 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.[11] Contingent members return to their permanent unit after completing ad hoc tasks.[1] The contingent operates in teams of five members with the team leader either the rank of Sergeant or Inspectorate.[11][1]

Operations

2014 Hong Kong protests
Main article: 2014 Hong Kong protests

The name of the police operation for the protests was Operation Solarpeak.[12][13][14][15]

  • STC in Queensway rapidly removing obstacles.
    STC in Queensway rapidly removing obstacles.
  • STC & PTU in Queensway rapidly removing obstacles.
    STC & PTU in Queensway rapidly removing obstacles.
  • PTU creating a blockade the Mong Kok Occupied Area, while STC officers push the mobile platform.
    PTU creating a blockade the Mong Kok Occupied Area, while STC officers push the mobile platform.
  • 2 STC officers standing on the mobile platform.
    2 STC officers standing on the mobile platform.
  • Closeup of a STC officer standing on the mobile platform.
    Closeup of a STC officer standing on the mobile platform.
  • STC in Causeway Bay rapidly removing obstacles.
    STC in Causeway Bay rapidly removing obstacles.

2016 Mong Kok Civil Unrest
Main article: 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.

2016 Anti-Interpretation Protest

Protests were held from 6 to 8 November 2016 during the interpretation of the Basic Law.[16][17][18]

2019 anti extradition bill protests
Main article: 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. Live-fire weapons were also deployed.[19] 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. 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.[20] 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.[21]

Uniform

Officers initially wore a dark blue PTU uniform.[1][22][23] Each officer attached a team call-sign with velcro to the back of their helmet for example “3-1”.[1][24] There was no Force requirement for a STC member to attach their service number or rank to their uniform although some officers did.[25][1][26]

During the 2016 Mong Kok civil unrest, the police found that the PTU uniform was not suitable for the contingent.[1][23] A new black uniform together with protective armor was sourced from overseas in November 2016 and approved in January 2017.[1][23] The new uniform was first used in operations on 9 June 2019.[1][26] There was no requirement to attach their service number to their uniform although some officers attached it.[1][26] 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.[1][27] 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.[1]

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.[1][28]

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.

Equipment
2 STC officers standing on the mobile platform. (Photo taken on 25 November, Mong Kok Reclamation Street)
ASP 21-inch (53 cm) expandable baton in expanded and collapsed state
STC officers with a Sponge-grenade gun.

Medical

Riot Control

Lethal and Less-Than-Lethal Deterrents
  • Smith & Wesson Model 10 Heavy Barrel (Used by officers from patrol units, EU and PTU)
  • Glock 17 (Used by operators from SDU, CTRU and ASU)
  • Remington Model 870
  • H&K MP5A3, MP5A5 (Used by operators from SDU, CTRU and ASU)
  • AR-15 (Used by PTU officers)
  • SIG Sauer SIG516 (Used by SDU and CTRU operators)
  • Pepper Spray/OC Spray
    • Sabre Red Pepper Spray (Mk. 3 & Mk. 9 Models)
    • Riot Specialized Pepper Spray
    • Pepper-spray projectile
    • VKS Pepperball Launcher
    • OC Water Jet Pack, in the ratio of 350mL of OC Liquid to 14L of pure water, within a container, carried on the back or placed on the ground, far distance and accurate spray.[30]
    • OC grenade (UK N225 & CHN KF-302-20)
    • Stun grenade
  • 37/38mm Federal Riot Gun
    • NonLethal Technologies™ MP-6M5-CS /Model CS-565 Tear Gas rounds, 5 rounds per projectile, able to discharge at 50–70 meters.
    • NonLethal Technologies™ MP-4-R3 /Model 373 Rubber Baton rounds, 3 rounds per projectile, able to discharge at 40–50 meters.
    • Norinco NF01-3 Tear Gas rounds, 3 rounds per projectile, able to discharge at 50–70 meters.
  • ARWEN 37 Multiple-Shot Less Lethal Launcher (Used by SDU operators)
  • Penn Arms GL-1 Compact（L140-4) Less Lethal Launcher
  • M320 Grenade Launcher Module[31]
  • Batons

Others
  • 3M Peltor Comtac/MSA Sordin/Ops-Core AMP Headset (worn by SDU operators)
  • Megaphone
  • Wire Cutters
  • Electric Drill
  • 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.[32]

See also

References
  1. "Yeung Tsz Chun v. Commissioner of Police [2020] HKCFI 2882". Hong Kong Judiciary Legal Reference. High Court. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  2. Independent Police Complaints Council (2020a). A Thematic Study by the IPCC on the Public Order Events arising from the Fugitive Offenders Bill since June 2019 and the Police Actions in Response - Volume 2 (PDF) (Report). Hong Kong. p. 72. OCLC 1164742150. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  3. Independent Police Complaints Council (2020b). A Thematic Study by the IPCC on the Public Order Events arising from the Fugitive Offenders Bill since June 2019 and the Police Actions in Response - Volume 4 (PDF) (Report). Hong Kong. pp. 104, 110. OCLC 1164742150. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  4. Hong Kong: Arbitrary arrests, brutal beatings and torture in police detention revealed "amnesty.org" 19 September 2019
  5. "藍衣軍正名「特別戰術小隊」" [The Blues are known as the "Special Tactical Squad"]. The Sun (in Chinese). 1 December 2014. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014.
  6. "警明清場Elite Team為主力". Sing Pao Daily News (in Chinese). 10 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  7. "飛虎加入速龍小隊 加強清障能力". Oriental Daily News (in Chinese). 11 December 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014.
  8. "IPCC VISITS PTU HQ". Offbeat – the electronic newspaper of the Royal Hong Kong Police. No. 1065 – June 22, 2016 - July 7, 2016. Hong Kong Police Force. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  9. "Hong Kong Police Review 2019 - Operations". Hong Kong Police Force. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  10. "Hong Kong Police Review 2017 - Operations". Hong Kong Police Force. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  11. Independent Police Complaints Council 2020b, p. 110.
  12. Protesters and the Speedy Dragons "Oriental Daily" 2/12/2014
  13. Protesters and the Speedy Dragons "The Sun, Oriental Daily" 2/12/2014
  14. CP and SDG members thank officers for contributing to Operation SOLARPEAK "Offbeat" 1033rd Publication
  15. CP encourages officers engaged in Operation SOLARPEAK "Offbeat" 1025th Publication
  16. Wu, Venus; Wong, Sue-Lin (7 November 2016). "China moves to bar Hong Kong activists as fears grow over intervention". Reuters. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  17. Tsang, Emily; Lo, Clifford (7 November 2016). "2,000 Hong Kong police ready round the clock as protests over Beijing's ruling on Basic Law loom". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  18. Yeung, Raymond; Mok, Danny; Lo, Clifford; Cheung, Elizabeth (6 November 2016). "Four arrested after violence at thousands-strong rally over Beijing's review of Basic Law". Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  19. "警武器升級 疑飛虎狙擊手戒備". Ming Pao Daily News (in Chinese). 19 November 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  20. "飛虎扮示威者挑打鬥再拉人". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 11 August 2019. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  21. "銅鑼灣放火暴徒 網友肉搜竟是飛虎隊假扮的". Newtalk (in Chinese). 12 August 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  22. "藍衣警獲正名「特別戰術小隊」" [Blue uniformed unit officially named "Special Tactical Squad"]. Oriental Daily News (in Chinese). 1 December 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  23. Independent Police Complaints Council 2020b, p. 111.
  24. Independent Police Complaints Council 2020b, pp. 111–112.
  25. "【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". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 19 June 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  26. Independent Police Complaints Council 2020b, p. 112.
  27. Independent Police Complaints Council 2020b, p. 113.
  28. "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" (PDF). Department of Justice. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. November 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  29. Anti-cut Gloves "Oriental Daily" 9 March 2015
  30. OC Water Jet Pack even stronger than pepper spray 852Post 25 November 2014
  31. PBS Image
  32. OC Spray and Pepper Spray "Oriental Daily" 26 November 2014
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