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SCMP Reporter

Colleagues and senior officials pay tribute to 'selfless' frontline medic Lau Wing-kai

More than 200 people, including a solemn procession of medical staff wearing their white uniforms, turned out yesterday to farewell the male nurse who became Hong Kong's first public health-care worker to die of Sars.

Lau Wing-kai, a married 38-year-old father of one, contracted the disease after nursing Sars patients in Tuen Mun Hospital. He died on April 26.

His funeral yesterday brought an outpouring of grief and tributes. The road opposite Hunghom's Universal Funeral Home, where a memorial service was held, was strewn with wreaths.

One was signed by a group of student nurses from Tuen Mun Hospital and read: 'We will never forget your selfless attitude in nursing patients.'

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa was among the mourners, along with a number of other senior government officials, including Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong, Secretary for Civil Service Joseph Wong Wing-ping, and Health Director Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun.

Dr Chan was in tears as she left the funeral.

Eulogies were given by Hospital Authority Chairman Leong Che-hung and Tuen Mun Hospital chief executive Cheung Wai-lun.

Dr Cheung said: 'I visited him when he could hardly speak because of his sickness. I believe he realised the seriousness of his sickness at that time but he only kept smiling, showing a never-give-up attitude which greatly encouraged all staff in Tuen Mun Hospital.

'I would also like to send my deepest respects to his wife, also a nurse, who continued to work in the hospital even though her husband had already fallen ill. She was brave and strong enough to encourage frontline medical workers to keep fighting.

'We medical workers should never retreat when we face difficult situations, or we will let Mr Lau down.'

Dr Leong said Lau's death was a great loss to Hong Kong.

'Hong Kong has lost a fearless frontline worker who valued patients' lives more than his own. He is a role model for all the hospital workers,' he said.

Four coaches filled with relatives, friends and co-workers accompanied the coffin to Gallant Garden - the cemetery reserved for people who have died while performing exceptional acts of bravery.

At the cemetery, Hospital Authority Chief Executive William Ho Shiu-wai  handed the Hong Kong flag that had been draped over the coffin to Lau's family, as other relatives, friends and colleagues dropped flowers into the grave.



Hero's farewell for nurse who died in Sars battle