‘Difficult decision’: Hong Kong’s Chris Tang defends shooting of man with knife

Hong Kong’s security chief has defended police’s “difficult decision” to shoot a man who brandished a knife and took a woman hostage in a shopping centre, praising their bravery and decisiveness in saving lives.

After police fatally shot the 34-year-old man on Thursday, Security Secretary Chris Tang Ping-keung revealed the suspect was mentally unstable at the time, possibly influenced by drugs, with suspected substances found in his possession.

“It is obvious that [the suspect] was acting insane at the time,” Tang told a radio programme on Friday, adding the critical call had saved lives and stopped the suspect from hurting residents.

“It was a very difficult decision to shoot, but they were very brave. They were very decisive and I think our regular training is highly relevant to it.”

The shooting unfolded around 7pm on Thursday as the 34-year-old man broke into Don Don Donki supermarket in the centre and grabbed a knife from a kitchen counter. He brandished it at people, sparking panic as crowds fled.

An officer fired a burst of pepper spray, but the suspect refused to drop the weapon.

Video clips show him rushing the crowds at the centre exit, snatching a woman, grabbing her bag and holding her against his chest.

The force said that after a second verbal warning was ignored, two officers each fired one shot at the man, one hitting his chest, the other his right shoulder.