Farewell to a hero: Police officer who survived AK-47 gunshot to head in 1990s armed robbery loses cancer battle

Police commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung was among officers past and present giving a hero's farewell yesterday to an inspector who survived being shot in the head by armed robbers over two decades ago.

Chan Sze-ki, who lost his sense of smell and taste after taking a bullet during the 1992 shoot-out, died of lung cancer on August 31 aged 51.

Secretary for the Civil Service Clement Cheung Wan-ching was also in attendance at the funeral.

With bagpipes playing, Chan's nine pallbearers - his closest friends in the force including Chief Superintendent Donnie Choy Yuk-kwong and superintendents Wong Tak-cheong and Chau Chung-mun - escorted his coffin to the hearse after the service at the Universal Funeral Home in Hung Hom, followed by Chan's daughter with his photograph.

Large numbers of police officers, plus representatives from all the disciplined forces, gave a silent salute as Chan's coffin, covered by the force's flag and topped with his own police hat, left the funeral home.

Chan was laid to rest in Gallant Garden, Wo Hop Shek, the cemetery for public servants who die in the line of duty.