Father of 21-year-old man shot dead by police brands killing 'ridiculous'

The father of a delivery worker shot dead by police on Monday slammed the force's handling of the case as "ridiculous" yesterday and said the use of firearms was not justified.

Delivery worker Ho Sai-tung, 21, was shot in the head and neck in Lam Tin on Monday while wielding a paper cutter at his estranged wife and others. An internal investigation is taking place.

Ho's father, Ho Wah, said the killing was "just ridiculous, period", adding: "He only had a paper cutter in his hand … his feet would tremble once you [police] fired a warning shot … You wouldn't need to fire three shots even when chasing criminals."

The case has prompted a debate on the use of firearms and sparked a war of words between Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun and high-profile former police superintendent Gregory Lau Tat-keung.

To on Monday questioned why police had not used nonlethal force to subdue Ho. But Lau said To's remark was "very irresponsible" and cited a 2005 case in which a police constable was left brain-damaged after being stabbed in the neck.

To said yesterday that the public should "demand that those who are authorised to use violence prove that they always abide by the law".