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

WASHINGTON (AP) — The late Rev. Jesse Jackson will not lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda after a request for the commemoration was denied by the House Speaker Mike Johnson's office due to past precedent.

Johnson’s office said it received a request from the family to have Jackson’s remains lie in honor at the Capitol, but the request was denied, because of the precedent that the space is typically reserved for former presidents, the military and select officials.

The civil rights leader died this week at the age of 84. The family and some House Democrats had filed a request for Jackson to be honored at the U.S. Capitol.

Amid the country’s political divisions, there have been flare ups over who is memorialized at the Capitol with a service to lie in state, or honor, in the Rotunda. During such events, the public is generally allowed to visit the Capitol and pay their respects.

Recent requests had similarly been made, and denied, to honor Charlie Kirk, the slain conservative activist, and former Vice President Dick Cheney.

There is no specific rule about who qualifies for the honor, a decision that is controlled by concurrence from both the House and Senate.

The Jackson family has announced scheduled dates for memorial services beginning next week that will honor the late reverend's life in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and South Carolina. In a statement, the Jackson family said it had heard from leaders in both South Carolina, Jackson’s native state, and Washington offering for Jackson to be celebrated in both locations. Talks are ongoing with lawmakers about where those proceedings will take place. His final memorial services will be held in Chicago on March 6 and 7.

Typically, the Capitol and its Rotunda have been reserved for the “most eminent citizens,” according to the Architect of the Capitol’s website. It said government and military officials lay in state, while private citizens in honor.

In 2020, Congressman John Lewis, another veteran of the Civil Rights movement, was the first Black lawmaker to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda after a ceremony honoring his legacy was held outside on the Capitol steps due to pandemic restrictions at the time.

Later that year, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allowed services for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Capitol’s Statuary Hall after agreement could not be reached for services in the Capitol’s Rotunda.

It is rare for private citizens to be honored at the Capitol, but there is precedent – most notably Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks, in 2005, and the Reverend Billy Graham, in 2018.

A passionate civil rights leader and globally-minded humanitarian, Jackson's fiery speeches and dual 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns transformed American politics for generations. Jackson's organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, became a hub for progressive organizers across the country.

His unapologetic calls for a progressive economic agenda and more inclusive policies for all racial groups, religions, genders and orientations laid the groundwork for the progressive movement within the Democratic Party.

Jackson also garnered a global reputation as a champion for human rights. He conducted the release of American hostages on multiple continents and argued for greater connections between civil rights movements around the world, most notably as a fierce critic of the policies of Apartheid South Africa.

The Capitol is seen during heavy rain as the Department of Homeland Security funding bill remains in limbo, in Washington, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

A picture of the Rev. Jesse Jackson is displayed during a news conference outside the family home, a day after his passing, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Congressman Jonathan Jackson speaks during a news conference regarding the death of his father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, outside the family home Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., arrives to the Frederick Douglass Press Gallery dedication at the Capitol, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

FILE - Rev. Jesse Jackson waves as he steps to the podium during the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 27, 2016. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)