Ten police and firemen based in Sai Kung were recently awarded medals for bravery in dealing with super-typhoon Mangkhut last September. Three were Medal for Bravery (Silver) (MBS) and seven for Medal for Bravery (Bronze) (MBB).
Mr Hui Chun Wai, a Police Constable, Mr Yeung Chee Choi, a Senior Police Constable, and Mr Chung Ho Man, a Police Constable, were awarded MBS in recognition of their tremendous courage, selflessness, commitment to duty, professionalism and gallantry of an extremely high order. Mr Hui, Mr Yeung and Mr Chung displayed a distinguished act of bravery in a marine rescue operation in Tsam Chuk Wan, Sai Kung on 16 September 2018 when Super Typhoon Mangkhut was at its closest to Hong Kong. The incident occurred at some 200 metres off Tsam Chuk Wan where a pleasure craft was sinking and four men on board had fallen into the sea, struggling to stay afloat.
The situation was desperate as it was raining very hard with waves of five to six metres high and the four men were exhausted. The sea was filled with debris as well as other vessels which had broken from their moorings and gone adrift. Despite the tricky sea and strong onshore gusts, Mr Hui climbed down the rescue net and jumped into the waters close to the injured men and managed to rescue two of the victims, one of whose leg was fractured; Mr Yeung jumped from the police launch and managed to rescue one of the victims; Mr Chung jumped from the police launch and managed to rescue one of the victims, who had difficulty in moving due to a torn ligament in his left knee.
Also involved in the rescue at Tsam Chuk Wan were Mr Lee Kwun Fat, a Senior Police Constable, Mr Woo Kwan Kuen, a Station Sergeant, Mr Kwok Kar Wo, a Station Sergeant, Mr Chum Man Kit, a Senior Inspector of Police, and Mr Cheng Yui Kwok, a Station Sergeant, who all received the MBB.
Mr Lee took up the role as coxswain of the police launch which was tasked with the rescue attempt. Mr Woo was one of the officers-in-charge of the rescue team, led his team members on the slippery deck surface to haul the victims from the rocking sea at the risk of falling overboard. Mr Kwok, who was the officer-in-charge of the quick response team led his team to take the three men swiftly to the cabin as soon as they were rescued, soothed them and provided them with first-aid treatment. He also helped haul one of the men from the sea up to the deck by a rope. Mr Chum led and coordinated his team to make the rescue attempt. Mr Cheng, was also one of the officers-in-charge of the rescue team.
Another operation took the same evening when two men were seen stranded on a small boat drifting in the sea near Tai Mong Tsai Road, Sai Kung. Two of the police officers taking part in the rescue have been awarded the MBB. Mr Cheung Man Ho, a Fireman, and Mr Cheung Ka Wo, a Station Officer. The operation took place in total darkness.
Mr Cheung Ka Wo, lead diver, and Mr Cheung Man Ho, second diver swam out to the storm-tossed waters to save the victims. Each of the moves ahead could be an unforeseeable danger. The rescuers had to struggle through the roaring sea with damaged vessels, unknown submerged obstacles and abundant floating debris, and they were slammed by waves up to three metres high. To avoid strangling by the obstacles in water and enhance mobility, the divers adopted the “untethered rescue swimmer mode”. They swam out to the small boat without their Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, at extraordinary personal risk when carrying out the rescue. One of the victims, when being located, was suffering from hypothermia and the leading diver needed to take care of this victim on the boat. Both rescuers towed the victims ashore for a successful operation.
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