8 arrested after video of retired police car road racing in Hong Kong goes viral

Hong Kong police have arrested a 29-year-old man who used a vehicle believed to be a retired squad car in illegal road races, alongside seven other men caught in the same operation.

Chief Inspector So Chi-bing of the regional crime unit in Kowloon East said officers had arrested eight men on Thursday after the force investigated media reports and online footage depicting several cars chasing after one another and switching lanes at high speed last month.

“In the footage, the force noticed that one of the private cars had blue and red flashing lights and reflective stickers similar to police vehicles. However, its model was different from serving police cars,” So said.

The chief inspector said the force believed the suspected police car used in races was a retired vehicle, adding that the force would investigate how the 29-year-old male owner had gotten possession of it.

The Post has learned that the private car was of model A6 from German brand Audi, manufactured in 2015. The force deploys saloon cars for anti-crime patrols or to carry passengers when needed.

So said the eight men arrested, including the 29-year-old, were the owners and drivers of the private cars involved in illegal races between Tsuen Wan and Kowloon Bay.

All eight men were arrested for illegal racing and using cars without third-party insurance. The 29-year-old was apprehended for impersonating a police officer and using forged documents on top of the other two offences.