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Hong Kong’s new fire chief stands by controversial comment on violent protesters, saying lawbreakers deserve to be condemned

  • Joseph Leung will take the helm of the city’s 151-year-old fire service on Saturday as current director Daryl Li retires
  • He says the comparison he made was a trivial matter compared with the damage caused by ‘rioters who breached the law’ with their acts

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Firefighters were frequently called to the scene of protests to put out blazes. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong’s newly installed fire chief is standing by his controversial remarks condemning violent anti-government protesters, saying that such people had caused greater damage than the comparison he drew.

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Joseph Leung Wai-hung, who is set to take the helm of the city’s 151-year-old fire service on Saturday, revealed during a meeting with the press on Wednesday that he had been told by the Civil Service Bureau that he should learn a lesson over his remarks.

As deputy director, he called protesters cockroaches during an internal meeting last year.

“But following this emotional remark, will it affect my work? Absolutely not,” said the 55-year-old, who will replace Director of Fire Services Daryl Li Kin-yat. Li has taken early retirement.

Daryl Li (left) with his successor Joseph Leung. Photo: SCMP
Daryl Li (left) with his successor Joseph Leung. Photo: SCMP
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Li, also 55, reflected on the unprecedented challenges the Fire Services Department had faced over the past 10 months, after the city was first hit by civil unrest followed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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