Police have begun an investigation into the death of David Chan Yuk-cheung which will involve questioning witnesses even though he died outside Hong Kong's jurisdiction.
An inquest into his death could involve a local court hearing evidence relating to plans made by the protesters to land at the islands.
Last night, the body of the 46-year-old former political activist was lying in the public mortuary pending an autopsy to determine the cause of death after being brought straight from the airport in a funeral cortege.
Chan's oldest sister, Chan Lai-ying, said the police had not informed the family they planned to hold an investigation.
The family would need to discuss the news with Chan's widow before deciding what action to take.
But she said television reports had shown the full details of how her brother lost his life so she could not see what more the police could learn by questioning the returning crew.
'If it is a legal procedure, we have to accept it. But I hope the police will inform us before conducting the autopsy,' she said. A funeral ceremony is planned in Hunghom next Friday.
