The Funeral with Full Honours for the Sacrificed Fireman Ho Wai-ho in the Tai Po Fire

On December 19, an official funeral with full honours was held by the Fire Services Department (FSD) for the sacrificed fireman, Mr. Ho Wai-ho, in the Tai Po fire. 

An official funeral with full honours was held by the Fire Services Department (FSD) for the sacrificed fireman, Mr. Ho Wai-ho, in the Tai Po fire. Photo by Bastille Post

The official ceremony was first held at the Universal Funeral Parlour in Hung Hom. Near the parlour, a condolence area was set up for members of the public to pay their respects in memory of Mr. Ho from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. At the site, many citizens have laid flowers to pay their respects to the heroic sacrifice of Mr. Ho. Some even couldn't hold back their tears after laying flowers. In their eyes, Mr. Ho's dedication to saving others, even at the cost of his own life in the fire, has left an indelible mark on the community.

The Universal Funeral Parlour, Photo by Bastille Post

The condolence area set up for members of the public to pay their respects in memory of Mr. Ho, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chung, one of the mourners placing flowers, said that Hong Kong had lost a very great person. He hoped Mr Ho Wai-ho would know that the people of Hong Kong would never forget him as a brave hero. As for Mr. Yiu, another citizen came to the condolence area to grieve for Mr. Ho, he believed that December 19 would be a heart-wrenching day for all Hong Kong people, as they had lost such an outstanding fireman.

Mr. Chung, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Yiu, Photo by Bastille Post

At 10:00 a.m., the funeral, attended by government officials, community dignitaries, and FSD colleagues, was held. Mr. John Lee, the Chief Executive, Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the former Chief Executive, Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the Financial Secretary and other related personnel have attended.

Mr. John Lee, Photo by Bastille Post

Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Paul Chan, Photo by Bastille Post

The hearse, carrying the coffin of Mr. Ho, left the funeral parlour at 10:30 a.m. after the official ceremony. Mr. John Lee led government officials and firemen to line up outside the parlour to pay their final tribute to Mr. Ho.

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Passing through Tai Wo Road, Po Heung Street, Kwong Fuk Road, Tai Po Road - Yuen Chau Tsai, the hearse arrived at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po at about 11:00 a.m. An on-site ceremony was held by FSD colleagues and local dignitaries. Meanwhile, many nearby residents have come spontaneously to bid farewell to Mr. Ho.

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Lau, a resident living near Wang Fuk Court, came together with her son to grieve for Mr. Ho. Her son said that after the Tai Po fire, he regarded firemen as very great people. As for Ms. Lau, she expressed her gratefulness to Mr. Ho, saying that she would always remember him and truly felt that he was a hero to the people of Hong Kong.

Ms. Lau, Photo by Bastille Post

Driving away from Wang Fuk Court, the hearse proceeded to Sha Tin Fire Station, where Mr. Ho was stationed before his sacrifice, via Tai Po Road, Sha Tin Rural Committee Road and Yuen Wo Road and arrived at around 11: 30 a.m. There, Mr. Andy Yeung, the Director of Fire Services, led a group of firemen to line up outside the fire station to pay their final respects to Mr. Ho.

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Outside the fire station, many residents also gathered to bid farewell to Mr. Ho. Among them, Ms. Chan, whose son had also attended the rescue of the Tai Po fire, expressed her grief for the loss of Mr. Ho. She said that, during the rescue period, her son had lost over 30 pounds since he had to carry corpses and control his own emotions simultaneously. In her eyes, firemen had indeed put so much effort into helping Hong Kong people overcome the difficulties of the fire. She hoped that, in the future, some professionals could provide emotional support to the firemen who were once on the front line of rescue and help them to heal from the suffering. "My son told me that he finally realized the meaning of death after attending the fire rescue." Ms. Chan said.

Many residents also gathered to bid farewell to Mr. Ho outside the fire station, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Chan, Photo by Bastille Post

Finally, the hearse arrived at Gallant Garden at Wo Hop Shek Cemetery for the burial of Mr. Ho's coffin by 1:00 p.m. On the site, his fellow firemen, families, fiancée, and even his pet dog, all paid homage to his sacrifice and hoped he could rest in peace at Gallant Garden.

Photo source: Screenshot of the live stream of FSD

Mr. Ho's fellow firemen, families, fiancée, and even his pet dog, all paid homage to his sacrifice. Photo source: Screenshot of the live stream of FSD

Mr. Ho's fellow firemen, families, fiancée, and even his pet dog, all paid homage to his sacrifice. Photo source: Screenshot of the live stream of FSD

Mr. Ho's fellow firemen, families, fiancée, and even his pet dog, all paid homage to his sacrifice. Photo source: Screenshot of the live stream of FSD

Mr. Ho's fellow firemen, families, fiancée, and even his pet dog, all paid homage to his sacrifice. Photo source: Screenshot of the live stream of FSD

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kongers offered flowers and bowed outside a funeral parlor on Friday to pay tribute to a firefighter who was among the 160 people killed by the city's deadliest fire in decades.

Ho Wai-ho lost his life battling the massive blaze that engulfed seven buildings of a housing complex on Nov. 26. He was 37. The fire services department has posthumously awarded him the title of senior fireman.

An array of wreaths lay outside the Universal Funeral Parlour, with thank-you cards from residents put up on its wall. Top officials, including Hong Kong leader John Lee, were among the funeral attendees.

After the ceremony, they stood outside the parlor to send off the hearse, which carried Ho’s portrait at the front. Dozens of firefighters raised a salute as Ho’s coffin, draped with a Hong Kong regional flag, departed.

Before the funeral, some black-clad residents laid flowers at a mourning area outside the venue. One woman cried when she paid respect, and a man made a salute gesture.

Resident Andy Fong, who brought yellow flowers with him, said he hoped Ho could rest in peace.

“It's heartbreaking. Although we have never met, it has saddened every Hong Konger," he said.

Retiree Tse Pak-yin praised Ho for his bravery.

“I hope he will be happy. He still hasn't got married and it's such as pity,” he said.

Ho is survived by his parents, his two brothers and his fiancée.

The hearse headed to Wang Fuk Court, the site of the fire, for another ceremony before proceeding to Ho's fire station. At the station, colleagues paid their last tributes, with some officers marching on both sides of the hearse as it moved. He was laid to rest at Gallant Garden, a burial ground for civil servants who die in the line of duty.

In a Monday statement, the fire services department said Ho was an industrious, polite and dedicated member who was well respected by his colleagues.

The financial hub's worst blaze since 1948 broke out November 26 at Wang Fuk Court, in the northern suburban district of Tai Po. It was undergoing a monthslong renovation project with buildings covered by bamboo scaffolding and green netting.

Authorities have pointed to the substandard plastic nylon netting and foam boards installed on windows for contributing to the fire’s rapid spread.

Thousands of affected residents have moved to transitional homes, hotels and youth hostels, struggling to recover from the loss of lives and homes that took them years to buy. The tragedy pained many residents across the city.

While arrests were made, some residents have raised concerns about government oversight in building maintenance projects and official investigation efforts.

The government last week announced a judge-led independent committee to probe the cause and expected it to conclude the work within nine months, along with new requirements for checking the standards of netting.

An earlier version of the headline on this story inaccurately described the fire as Hong Kong’s deadliest. It was the deadliest in decades.

Firefighters gather around the grave of Ho Wai-ho, the firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty during the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court on Nov. 26, during a funeral in Hong Kong, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

A picture of Ho Wai-ho, the firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty during the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court on Nov. 26, is displayed on a hearse at a funeral parlor, in Hong Kong, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

A display of wreaths stand outside a funeral parlor at a tribute to Ho Wai-ho, the firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty during the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court on Nov. 26, in Hong Kong, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

A resident salutes to pay tribute to Ho Wai-ho, the firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty during the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court on Nov. 26, in Hong Kong, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

People gather outside a funeral parlor to pay tribute to Ho Wai-ho, the firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty during the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court on Nov. 26, passing by a funeral parlor in Hong Kong, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

A hearse carries Ho Wai-ho, the firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty during the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court on Nov. 26, as it passes by a funeral parlor, in Hong Kong, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

A hearse carries Ho Wai-ho, the firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty during the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court on Nov. 26, passes by a funeral parlor in Hong Kong, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)