The salon staffer reported to police around 5pm that a waist bag containing a gun, a baton, two magazines, and a pair of handcuffs was left behind by a customer.

Police soon rushed to confiscate the bag and found, after confirming the firearm serial number, that the gun was a semi-automatic pistol belonging to an officer from the Yuen Long district anti-triad unit.

It was understood that officer had admitted that he forgot to retrieve his gun and other belongings after getting the haircut. The case is now handled by the Yuen Long district crime squad.

Police stressed that they have stringent regulations on the keeping and using of police equipment and added they have started an internal inquiry regarding the incident. Any violation reported will be followed up in earnest, they continued.

According to records, a female cop from Mong Kok district's special task force lost her gun when handling a burglary case in July last year. Her weapon was later found in a toilet in Metro Harbour Plaza in Tai Kok Tsui.