[RichardLangford]

I'm still fairly new to Geoexpat. It looks like Sandbox is the best forum to tell everyone about an experience I had yesterday. I'm still fuming about this!

Yesterday lunchtime in Lockhart Road, while on my way to lunch I ran into a vagrant-looking Gweilo who at first I thought was drunk but was probably drugged and was being aggressive to passers by. He approached me claiming he was homeless, had been robbed and asked for money. He mentioned he was from Scarborough (North England).

When I told him to go the British Consulate for help the stupid b*****d smacked me in the face! I was furious and told him I would call the police. I followed him at a distance (he was much bigger than me) as he walked up and down threatening other people and I decided to call Wanchai police station. He continued demanding money and annoying people and actually kicked another Westerner up the backside!

10 minutes later a lone WPC arrived by which time this drugged/drunk lunatic was outside Wanchai MTR Lockhart Rd exit. The WPC was quite small and I warned her that he was violent and wanted to advise her not to approach him without backup, but left things to her.

The WPC politely asked for his ID, but he just sneered at her and started walking to the MTR entrance. We both followed him at first but then she gave up and radioed for backup as he started running. It then became very clear that he did not want to be checked by the police. I gave chase but to my disappointment the WPC did not. Instead of going through the ticket turnstiles he bolted out through the Southorn playground exit. This drugged idiot ran very fast and managed to run out and cross over Johnston Road and lose me in the crowded market stalls!

5 minutes later while I'm searching through the market stalls I got a call from the police 'reassuring' me that police at all MTR stations had been alerted and they hoped to catch him! I told them not to bother as he did not go down to the trains but had escaped across Johnston Road! That was the end of that!

I'm not just unhappy at being punched. I'm also disappointed that a lone WPC was sent to deal with this even though I told Wanchai police that there was a violent Westerner in the street. Furthermore, the WPC did not give chase with me and she wrongly presumed that he would try and take a train. Anyone who knows Wanchai MTR knows that there are several other exits he could escape through and that was what he did. He completely outwitted the police and also outran me!

Since the idiot in question did not smell of any alcohol and was able to run so fast, he was probably drugged up. Reflecting on the incident, he probably ran from the police because he was carrying drugs. Less probably he may have been an overstay or involved in some other crime.

I just want to say now that I sincerely hope this person gets nicked sooner rather than later as I think he is dangerous. Or if anyone knows him, he should be warned to get his head together as he may not be so lucky with escaping next time!

[KnowItAll]

Probably was drugged and robbed to be honest....

[Lammarite]

Sorry to hear about your experience...From a chat I had with an off-duty policeman once the police genarally have a 'steer clear' polocy when it comes to drunk gwailos.

[JAherbert]

typically the police will send one officer to investigate, and then call 20 or more for backup. Also the methodone clinic is very close to wanchai MTR

[KnowItAll]

>> then call 20 or more for backup

Hah! This is a sign that you've seen the Hong Kong cops in action.

[discobay]

Unfortunately, most of the time a lot of the detail is lost in the translation. If you had made the 999 call in Cantonese, and this is not a criticism at you, you would have had atleast two beat officers arrive at the scene. Anyway, thanks for the heads up.

[penguinsix]

I've never called 999. Do they have English speaking operators, or is it some telephone system (For reporting a murder in English, press 1, for fires and other mayhem, press 2).

[kombuchakid]

999 is to be used as a last resort-ideally call the nearest police station and the nearest beat cop can be with you in a couple in minutes.

I reported a dead bird recently and not only got 3 cops in 15 minutes but also the men in white from Ag and Fish in 10 more to remove the corpse. It was the 72nd dead bird of the day and as it was not flu-ed out I did not get to feature in the evening news that night. Pity

[nivantj]

>> For reporting a murder in English, press 1, for fires and other mayhem, press 2

Hahahaha.. Thanx for providing good morning laugh

[ppalmer]

My husband saw this weird guy in Wan Chai about a week ago. He was going up to people and bugging them. He was about to approach my husband until he saw that our son, who is 8, was with him. I never seen this character but now I know he exists.