Meanwhile, Florence Hui Hiu-fai, undersecretary for home affairs, had a telephone conversation with Ram Limbu, on Thursday to express the bureau's condolences.

Ms Hui and Deputy Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Arthur Ho Kin-wah yesterday met Nepal's consul-general in Hong Kong, Keshab Bhattarai, to offer any possible assistance for the family of the deceased.

The victim's wife and daughter were expected to arrive in Hong Kong next week, Mr Bhattarai said.

The victim was shot on a Ho Man Tin hillside when he allegedly attacked a police constable with a wooden chair. After using pepper spray and dropping his baton, the officer shot twice. The first shot missed, but the second hit the head of the victim, who later died in hospital.

Assistant Police Commissioner William Tang How-kong said earlier that police did not have enough translators to handle the increasing number of ethnic minorities in the city.

Fermi Wong Wai-fun, campaign director of Unison Hong Kong for Ethnic Equality, said the government would introduce a race equality plan in the middle of the year, under which government departments such as health and education would be required to set up operational guidelines to enhance the ability of staff to deal sensitively with the cultural differences of ethnic minorities.

She suggested that law enforcement agencies, including the police, consider setting up such guidelines even though they were not required to do so.

Democratic Party lawmaker Emily Lau Wai-hing supports Ms Wong's suggestion, and will meet the police next week to discuss how to improve communication between officers and ethnic minorities.