Lau Chi-kin laid to rest with full Police Honours
Burial at
Gallant Garden
Officers from Hong Kong Island Region, Kowloon West Region, New Territories North Region, Personnel Wing, Support Wing, Police College and Operations Wing escorted the hearse to Gallant Garden. At Gallant Garden, a bugler from the Police Band sounded the "Last Post" as SSgt Lau's coffin was lowered into the grave.
When SSgt Lau's family held a vigil at the funeral parlour in the evening before his funeral service, the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, accompanied by Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung, went to the funeral parlour to pay his last respects to SSgt Lau.
Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, Secretary for Justice, Mr Wong Yan Lung and Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, also attended the vigil.
Among those paying their last respects to SSgt Lau at the funeral service were Chief Executive's Aide-de-Camp, Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue, Executive Council Members, Legislative Council Members, senior officers from government policy bureaux, departments and other disciplined services, CP, Senior Directorate Group Officers and representative from Major Formations, Regions, Districts and Force staff associations.
Eulogy
Delivering the eulogy, Senior Inspector (SIP) Kong Wing-cheung of Regional Anti-triad Unit Hong Kong Island said SSgt Lau joined the Force in 1981 and was promoted to Sergeant in 1996 and to Station Sergeant in 2008. "Without any doubt, he devoted his whole life to the Force and did his best to serve the public," SIP Kong noted.
SSgt Lau was a veteran CID officer in Hong Kong Island Region, having worked in the Regional Special Duties Squad and Crime Unit, SIP Kong continued. "Ah Kin came from a family with a disciplined service tradition. His father was a member of the Fire Services Department and his two elder brothers, just like him, are police officers, all making a contribution to society. Those who know Ah Kin know his family means a lot to him, and he always talked about his wife and daughter, his family life and his daughter's schooling.
"Those who had worked with Ah Kin have no doubt about his passion for and positive attitude towards his job, and still cherish the days they worked together with him. Ah Kin often shared his valuable experience with his colleagues and lent a helping hand to young officers. He displayed his leadership quality while handling different cases, and this had earned him the trust and compliments of his supervisors," SIP Kong added.
Citing SSgt Lau's outstanding performances in CID work, SIP Kong said he was presented with Commissioner's Commendation in 1993 for apprehending a dangerous criminal of an armed robbery in a jewellery shop in Central. In 2009, he showed leadership and tenacity while working at a landfill to search for the body of a baby among medical wastes.
"With public expecting more and more from the Force and the political landscape becoming more complex, policing has become an increasingly difficult and daunting task. But no matter how hostile the environment is, how dangerous the situation is and how demanding the job is, we, as professional police officers like Ah Kin, will do our best to uphold justice and maintain law and order. The life of Ah Kin epitomised the professional spirit of the Force and his death was a wake-up call to some people in society, prompting them to have a rethink on the actions that are too drastic and put people in harm's way," SIP Kong added.
"Ah Kin will for ever live in our memory. On behalf of all the colleagues who have worked with him, I extend our deepest condolences to his family," SIP Kong concluded.
(Some of the condolences that poured in shortly after the tragedy are published in Photo Features )
SSgt
Lau's
coffin
is
draped
with the HKSAR Flag
CP
and
officers
pay
their
last respects to SSgt Lau as the hearse leaves
for Gallant Garden