Suit over picture of dead singer

THE parents of the late rock singer Wong Ka-kui are suing a funeral home for failing to prevent his body being photographed before the ceremony.

Wong, the 31-year-old lead singer of Beyond, died of a cerebral haemorrhage on June 30, six days after falling from a stage while filming a television show in Japan.

Wong Kwok-man and his wife, Chu Siu-fong, in a writ filed with the Supreme Court, state that they have suffered emotional anguish and distress because of the publication of a picture of their son's body in a weekly magazine.

They are seeking damages from Hong Kong Funeral Home on the grounds of negligence, contending that it had agreed that prior to placing the singer's body in an open coffin for the funeral ceremony, it would be kept in a private, locked room and would not be interfered with.

According to the writ, on July 1 or 2, Chua Lam, acting for Mr and Mrs Wong, telephoned Gerald Siu of the funeral home to discuss the arrangements.

It was agreed that the funeral home would have the custody of the body pending the funeral and it would also make all the necessary arrangements for the ceremony.

The body was taken to the funeral home on July 2 and, later that evening, it is pleaded, Mr and Mrs Wong won assurances from a Mr Wong acting for the defendant that the privacy and security of the singer's body were guaranteed.