Cops buy three more water cannon trucks at HK$9.9 million

Hong Kong police have spent HK$9.9 million to purchased three more water cannon trucks, making it to a total of six of these cannons which are usually deployed for crowd control.

Police confirmed the three new and smaller water cannon vehicles arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday. 

Calling the water cannon trucks as “specialized crowd management vehicles,” a police spokesman said the purchase was done in response to the challenges brought by an increasingly complicated social environment and operation needs.

“This allows the force to have an extra equipment option when carrying out crowd management operations,” the spokesman said.

But he did not spell out where the water cannons are manufactured and how much the vehicles cost, but sources said the three new trucks were manufactured in the mainland, which cost HK$9.9 million in total.

It is understood that the power of new water cannons are the same as the existing trucks, and the three trucks are currently under examination by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, which is expected to finish by February or March next year.

“Police demand all operators must undergo relevant driving, operation and safety training before driving the vehicle,” the spokesman said, adding that the operators must also follow the related regulations and guidelines strictly.

He also said the force has strict guidelines on use of force, which will be applicable when water cannon trucks are being deployed. Some of the guidelines include minimum force will be used when such an action is absolutely necessary, and that police officers will give verbal warning prior to the use of force when circumstances permit.

The water cannon trucks were first used against protesters during the 2019 anti-fugitive bill movement. The water fired was sometimes mixed with blue dyes or chemical irritants.

The three existing water cannon vehicles have two water spray devices on the roof that can be operated in three modes -- fog, pulsed jet, and stream, as well as four cameras on each vehicle can record for 20 hours non-stop.

The force previously said the existing water cannon vehicles can shoot at targets from 20 meters to 50 meters away. A person hit would be pushed 10 meters backward if the cannon is fired from 20 meters.

The tear liquid added in the water tank will be the pelargonic acid vanillylamide as currently used, which would not have long term health impact.

Police also said the level of water pressure and distance being used would depend on the situation, adding that water cannons will be used in large scale disturbances, violent clashes, and when major roads are occupied and public safety threatened.