Wong Ka-hei, 27, should be buried in Gallant Garden, the official burial ground for government servants killed in the line of duty, his commander said.
'He sacrificed his life in combating the fire. His act was brave. I believe he deserves a place there,' New Territories South divisional commander Szeto Yat-san said, adding Wong was an outstanding and responsible firefighter.
'Wong was hard-working and willing to learn and offer himself to help others. We are saddened.'
The department's flag flew at half mast over its Hung Hom headquarters and three regional command offices yesterday for Wong, the only fireman killed in a fire in the past 10 years. Wong joined the department in July 1999. Unmarried, he lived with his parents and two sisters in Lok Fu Estate.
The following firefighters died in the line of duty in the past 11 years:
Cheung Chun-wai died in July 2004 while trying to save a worker from a gas-filled sewer in the car park of Smiling Shau Kei Wan Plaza.
