AdvertisementHong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedyHong KongSocietyDeveloping | Fallen firefighter honoured in funeral rites as Hongkongers gather to pay last respects
Procession with full honours held for Ho Wai-ho as hearse travels past site of fire in Tai Po en route to final resting place in Gallant Garden
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Harvey Kong,Susan SuandJiang Chuqin
Hongkongers gathered on Friday to pay their last respects to the firefighter who died battling the Tai Po blaze, as his hearse passed the fire site and the fire station he had served in en route to the cemetery in Gallant Garden, in a funeral procession with full honours.
The Fire Services Department held an official funeral for the late Ho Wai-ho at Universal Funeral Parlour in Hung Hom at 10am, attended by top government officials, members of the city’s political elite, as well as current and former city leaders.
The mood was sombre as family members, friends, colleagues and key officials bid farewell to the fallen firefighter.
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Ho, 37, had served in the Fire Services Department for nine years and was stationed at Sha Tin Fire Station when he was dispatched to fight the blaze in Wang Fuk Court. Hong Kong’s worst fire in decades was ignited on November 26, and claimed at least 160 lives and displaced nearly 5,000 residents.
As the official ceremony was held behind closed doors, residents young and old gathered opposite the funeral home at a memorial site for the firefighter.
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“Although we have never met before, Hong Kong is very honoured to have these firefighters who have always protected this city,” Andy Fong, an 18-year-old freelance photographer, said. “I think, as a resident, doing this little act [of paying tribute] is something I should do.”
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