HKP - Superintendent Mathew O'Sullivan | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

HKP - Superintendent Mathew O'Sullivan

HKP - Superintendent Mathew O'Sullivan

Mathew O'Sullivan, Superintendent of Police.....  Irish Catholic Hong Kong Policeman with a heart !

This photograph was published widely in newspapers around the world on 1st September 1966 during the Cultural Revolution. Catholic nuns of the Sacred Heart Academy in Peking had been terrorized  by Red Guards before being expelled from China as "spies". On their arrival by train at the Lowu frontier, one of the nuns, Sister Eamon collapsed from exhaustion and is seen here being wheeled across the border  on a trolley by Police Supt. O'Sullivan. She later died in hospital . O'Sullivan was the Divisional Superintendent of the Frontier Division from 1965-1968. He was a patron (as well as one of the 'fixtures' in the bar) of the frontier division's police officers mess which was affectionately named after him as "O'Suk's Bar". ( I am indepted to David Tolliday-Wright for the identification of O'Sullivan and also the information about "O'Suk's bar" which David would certainly know much about  , having been posted to this police division himself at the time ....................."nuff said"!

Date picture taken (may be approximate): 
Thursday, September 1, 1966
Connections: 

Comments

A newsreel footage of the event can be viewed here

Well done for finding this related Pathe film.