Senior Assistant Commissioner Lau Ip-shing is to be promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Police, effective from October 17.

He will replace the incumbent Tony Wong Chi-hung, who is retiring.

Lau Yip shing
Lau Yip-shing (third from left), during the 2014 pro-democracy occupy protests.

Lau was part of the decision-making team on the night of the Mong Kok unrest, which broke out in February over the government’s attempt to clear street hawkers in the Mong Kok area.

He was also part of the review committee set to examine police armour and tactics after the night of turmoil

mong kok fehd riot protest
James Tien says that grievances in society grew under CY Leung’s “tough governance”, leading to the Mong Kok unrest during Lunar New Year. Photo: Kris Cheng/HKFP.

Lau once said that the Mong Kok unrest was “the most violent, most barbaric clash since the handover.”

The promotion came  as a student who was accused of possessing an offensive weapon during Mong Kok unrest was acquitted.

chantal yuen

Chantal Yuen

Chantal Yuen is a Hong Kong journalist interested in issues dealing with religion and immigration. She majored in German and minored in Middle Eastern studies at Princeton University.