HONG KONG - Hong Kong police on Monday defused an explosive device that targeted Police Commissioner Chris Tang Ping-keung.

Speaking at a news briefing, Senior Superintendent Ng Wing-sze of the Hong Kong Island Regional Crime Headquarters said the package, addressed to Tang, arrived at the police headquarters in Wan Chai through a local express delivery at 10:20 am on Monday.

This type of postal home-made bombs is commonly used by terrorists around the world, police Senior Bomb Disposal Officer Alick McWhirter said

The officer who signed for the delivery noticed a smell of combustible materials. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau was called in and found a partially functional explosive device inside the package. They deactivated the device and are conducting further tests in their investigation.

This type of postal home-made bombs is commonly used by terrorists around the world, police Senior Bomb Disposal Officer Alick McWhirter said.

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“Sadly today, this is yet another indication that in Hong Kong, we are still dealing with homegrown terrorism,” McWhirter said.

No one was injured in the incident, Ng said. However, the person who sent the device had intended to harm the recipient or anyone who opened the package, she added.

McWhirter said the explosive device was alarming as it was different from several remote-controlled devices found in the city in the past few months.

The “victim-operated” device was designed to explode when it was opened, whether by a police officer or someone like a postal official.

Such explosives, though relatively small in size, can cause serious injuries to the victim’s eyes, face, and hands because when it explodes, the victims are usually only about a half-meter away and may even be holding the explosives.

Ng strongly condemned the irresponsible action, which disregards the safety of others and challenges law enforcement agencies. Since such explosive devices are usually unstable, they may explode during delivery and harm innocent people.

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According to the Crimes Ordinance, whether or not any damage was caused, any person who maliciously causes by an explosive substance an explosion that is likely to endanger life or to cause serious injury to property faces up to life imprisonment.