Late Officer Lam Yuen-yee Buried With Full Honours

Large crowds of well-wishers gathered outside a funeral parlour in Hung Hom on Tuesday to pay their respects to late police chief inspector Lam Yuen-yee, who died at sea during an anti-smuggling operation.

The service with full honours was attended by the city’s top officials, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam, police chief Raymond Siu, head of fire services Joseph Leung and Correctional Services Commissioner Woo Ying-ming, as well as state leader and former chief executive CY Leung.

The late marine officer fell into the sea during an anti-smuggling operation in waters off Lung Kwu Tan in late September, and her body was found two days later.

An SAR flag was draped over her coffin, as dozens of officers marched next to the hearse while bagpipers from the police band played a lament.

A man among the crowd outside the parlour to see the chief inspector off said he travelled from Tuen Mun.

"She was brave, she was serving the Hong Kong public and lost her life. I want to pay her my final respects," the man told RTHK.

A retired policeman said he had worked with Lam Yuen-yee before, and he was very sad to see a former colleague die on duty.

"The scene's too grand, there are too many people in the mourning hall, and I couldn't get in. But I will be staying outside, seeing off the cortege, seeing her off one last time. I will visit her grave at Gallant Garden later and have a chat with her," he said.

The cortege proceeded to the Government Dockyard at Stonecutters Island, before the burial service was held at the Gallant Garden in Wo Hop Shek.