Image copyright Hong Kong police

A 20-year-old Hong Kong policeman has swept to fame online after he talked a suicidal Pakistani man out of killing himself - in fluent Urdu.

The man had climbed a 20-metre-high (65ft) crane at a construction site, and police were called to the scene.

Ifzal Zaffar, who is of Pakistani descent, duly climbed up too and addressed him in their shared language.

The man agreed to come down, and was taken to hospital.

Constable Zaffer, who also speaks fluent Cantonese, said he was simply following his training.

"I used the techniques we learned at the academy … I think he felt safer knowing that I could talk to him in his own language," he told Apple Daily.

The young man joined the force just under a year ago, and is said to be the only officer of Pakistani origin in the district.

He arrived via a Hong Kong police scheme to recruit non-Chinese officers, called Operation Gemstone.

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Constable Zaffer's handling of the delicate situation won him praise from superiors - and a social media fanclub.

"He is very handsome yet having a golden heart," gushed Facebook user Nuna Priya.

"Mr IFZAL ZAFFAR, many citizen support you, pls keep on serving the society. Thanks!!!" wrote Baba Bebe Wong.

As netizens commended his integrity and professionalism, the Muslim Council of Hong Kong also joined the chorus of support.

"Bravo to this young man and thank you to the HK police force for bringing him in," it said.

"Hope more such stories can be seen to show HK is indeed a multi-cultural city."