HK United Nations Worker Among Plane Crash Victims

A Hong Kong resident killed in a plane crash in Ethiopia was named on Monday as Victor Tsang who worked for the United Nations Environment Programme.

Chinese University confirmed Tsang was one of the 157 people killed, saying he was an alumnus who had been working for non-governmental organisations for years promoting environmental conservation.

The university said Tsang’s passion for the promotion of sustainable development was admirable, noting he had recently returned to the institution to teach as a guest lecturer for its global studies programme.

The UN Environment Programme’s website said Tsang was working under its gender and safeguards unit in Kenya, and had previously worked for the UN’s World Food Programme in Rome.

In a brief biography on the website, Tsang said “I have been working to strength gender equality in projects and policies. From Ethiopia to Panama, from Sudan to Chad, from Japan to France, I have been enjoying my work to build staff capacity, design gender indicators and conduct gender assessment. It's a very satisfying job that makes me smile from the heart!”

Messages of condolence poured in on his Facebook page. One said Tsang had been “a huge inspiration and guide”, and another said “I’ll forever remember your kindness, passion and drive for life, to make this world a better place”.

UN officials said at least 19 of their colleagues died when the Nairobi-bound plane crashed into a field shortly after take-off in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened at the tragic loss of lives in the airplane crash”.

“He conveys his heartfelt sympathies and solidarity to the victims’ families and loved ones, including those of United Nations staff members, as well as sincere condolences to the government and people of Ethiopia,” the statement said.