Andy Tsang

Andy Tsang Wai-hung, GBS, PDSM (Chinese: 曾偉雄, born 1958) was the Commissioner of the Hong Kong Police Force until 4 May 2015^[1] Known to be a hard-liner, Tsang's unpopularity is borne out by his nickname, "The Vulture". Under Tsang's tenure, police tactics and handling have come under increased criticism for heavy-handedness; incidents of police harassment of protesters have increased. In particular, since the start of the Umbrella Revolution, police methods and tactics have come under public scrutiny leading to accusations that Tsang has turned the police force into a tool to serve the government's political aims and to oppress citizens.

Career

Tsang joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1978 as a Probationary Inspector. From 1993 to 1995, he was seconded to the Metropolitan Police Service in London as a Superintendent. He was promoted to Senior Superintendent (Crime – New Territories North Headquarters) in 1996 and to District Commander (Wan Chai) in 1998 with the rank of Chief Superintendent. He was subsequently appointed head of the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau.

In 2003, Tsang was promoted to Assistant Commissioner (Information Systems Wing) in 2003. In February 2005, he was promoted to Senior Assistant Commissioner (Director of Personnel and Training). He was subsequently appointed Director of Operations. He was promoted to Deputy Commissioner (Management) in January 2008 and appointed Deputy Commissioner (Operations) in March 2010.

In January 2011, the Hong Kong government announced that Tsang was to succeed Tang King-shing as Commissioner of Police.^[2][3]

Known to be a hard-liner, Tsang's unpopularity is borne out by his nickname, "The Vulture".^[4] Under Tsang, police tactics and handling have come under increased criticism for heavy-handedness; incidents of police harassment of protesters have increased.^[5] In particular, since the start of the Umbrella Revolution, police methods and tactics have led to accusations that it has been turned into a political tool by the government, and that the police impartiality is no more; thus the governance system is seeing an erosion of the rule of law in favour of "rule by law", where the police are a mechanism for oppression of citizens.^[6][7][8][9] Tsang was conspicuously absent following the eruption of student protests and the start of the Umbrella Revolution where many questions were raised with regard to the Hong Kong Police Force using excessive force on protesters. This prolonged absence prompted speculation that he was gravely ill. Three weeks later, on 18 October 2014, Tsang dispelled concerns that he was deceased after appearing in front of the press to comment on the Occupy Central development. Fung Wai-wah, president of the Professional Teachers' Union, remarked that "the police have made themselves enemy of the people", literally overnight.^[6]

Tsang retired on 4 May 2015, and was replaced by Stephen Lo Wai-chung, promoted from deputy commissioner in charge of force management.^[1]

Controversy

Fantasy apology

Soon after he became commissioner, during the 2011 anti-budget demonstration, an 8-year-old boy was pepper-sprayed in the eye, according to police, accidentally. Under pressure to make an apology on behalf of the police force, Tsang declined, saying any apology is something of a fantasy (天方夜譚).^[10]

818 incident

On 23 August 2011, there were calls for Andy Tsang to resign following the controversy regarding the visit of Vice Premier Li Keqiang in August 2011 during which student protesters were prevented from making themselves heard in Li's vicinity and detained.^[11]

References

External links

• Hong Kong Police Force website
• Hong Kong Government website profile