By Dennis Chong and Stephen Chan
South China Morning Post
HONG KONG —Senior fireman Siu Wing-fong was laid to rest in Gallant Garden yesterday after colleagues, members of the public and residents of the Mong Kok building where he died paid their final tributes to the valiant firefighter in a full-honours funeral service.
Tears flowed as colleagues and residents of Cornwall Court, where Siu, 46, and fellow fireman Chan Siu-lung, 25, died, observed the solemn official ceremony at the Universal Funeral Parlour in Hung Hom, at Cornwall Court and at Mong Kok Fire Station, where Siu had worked for six years.
“He was a good fireman. He is a hero,” said a fireman giving his name as Mr Ma, who met Siu when they were both stationed at Tsim Sha Tsui East more than 10 years ago.
Senior government officials, legislators and dozens of firemen lined the pavement of Cheong Hang Road, flanked by dozens of wreaths outside the Universal Funeral Parlour, from which Siu started his final ride on a fire engine that would be his hearse.
When it arrived at the site of the fatal fire, at least 300 onlookers, some in tears, gathered on both sides of Nathan Road. A platoon of firemen gave the passing coffin a solemn salute.
Halfway to Gallant Garden, the funeral cortège stopped for a few moments outside Mong Kok Fire Station on Prince Edward Road West. The hearse paused in the middle of the road in front of a wreath as the government’s bagpipe band played a tribute to Siu’s 24-year career.
Tse Sze-ho, a teammate of Siu’s in the force’s volleyball team and a participant in the ceremony, said Siu had a “great sense of responsibility”.
Tse Tak-fai, Mong Kok’s senior station officer, said Siu “liked to be with juniors. Like this time, he risked his life with a junior”. He added that Siu’s death was a huge loss.
At Gallant Garden, Wo Hop Shek Cemetery in Fanling, Siu’s daughter, carrying the fireman’s portrait, and his widow were offered condolences by his colleagues and officials of the disciplined forces.
Director of Fire Services Gregory Lo Chun-hung, among more than 20 other officials at the ceremony, removed his hat as a sign of reverence when the bugle call reveille signalled a one-minute silence.
The service concluded when the coffin was lowered into the grave beside Chan, Siu’s colleague, who was buried last week.
Siu’s yellow service helmet, bearing the letters “MK” for Mong Kok, was also buried, and the Hong Kong flag that was draped over the coffin was given to his widow.
During the six-hour blaze on August 10, the masks of Siu and Chan ran out of oxygen as they helped two stranded residents on the top floor to the roof. The residents were later rescued but the two firemen were found unconscious.
Siu, who was awarded the Fire Services Department Long Service Medal in 2002, was survived by his wife and daughter.
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