HONG KONG (SE): Thousands of people attended a prayer service at Chater Garden, Central, on November 10 to mourn the death of 22-year-old Alex Chow Tsz-lok, a student from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, who reportedly fell from height at a car park at Sheung Tak Estate in Tseung Kwan O on November 8.
While the actual circumstances remain unclear, it is believed he fell from the third level to the second level of the facility after police had fired multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse protesters throwing bottles and bricks.
At the beginning of the prayer service, Reverend Chu Yiu-ming led those present to mourn in silence for three minutes.
In this message, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing of Hong Kong, called on the government to set up a coroner’s court, or an independent body, to investigate Chow’s death as soon as possible. He believes that no one with a conscience can accept an unclear cause of death and that not getting to the truth will only worsen the situation in Hong Kong.
Quoting a statement made by the international panel of experts brought in by the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) on the same day, saying that the council needs more powers to ensure a coherent account of the facts and secure evidence, Bishop Ha said he believes the IPCC cannot meet the international standard as a police monitoring body. He again called for the setting of up an independent commission of inquiry to find out the truth.
The bishop said that even if the reason why Chow was at the car park is not known, he must have done so out of a willingness to do something for Hong Kong.
Meeting the press after the prayer service, Bishop He urged people not to take revenge against anybody in their sorrow over Chow’s death.
“We cannot seek justice in an unjust way,” he said adding that added any act of revenge would be irrational, especially when the truth about the death is still unknown.
Reverend Yuen Tin-yau of the Methodist Church, another speaker, urged people not to bear any hatred as it would only create more hatred. He expressed the wish of Chow’s family that his funeral will be held in a low-profile way as they hope that there will be no more violence due to his death.
The prayer service was organised by the Justice and Peace Commission, the Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students, the Diocesan Youth Commission, the Christians for Hong Kong Society and a number of other Protestant groups.
