Police probe vandalism to memorial plaque for dead air service crewmen
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 02 November, 2014, 6:08am
UPDATED : Sunday, 02 November, 2014, 6:08am
Lana Lam [email protected]
The plaque honours pilot Peter Pang Fu-kwok and crewman Dickson Chan Man-tik, who died on duty in 2003.
Police are investigating after pro-democracy messages were daubed on a memorial to two Government Flying Service crewmen who died on duty in 2003.
The head of the service, Captain Michael Chan Chi-pui, confirmed staff removed red Chinese characters from the metal plaque at Pak Kung Au mountain pass on Lantau Island after reporting the matter to police. The phrases, "I want real universal suffrage" and, "689, step down" - a reference to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying - appeared on Wednesday.
Vandals daubed pro-democracy slogans on memorial to two dead air servicemen. Photo: SMP
It is not known whether those responsible for desecrating the memorial are Occupy Central supporters and it is unclear why the monument was targeted. The service provides aerial support for the police and was involved in removing a pro-Occupy banner from Lion Rock last month.
The plaque honours pilot Peter Pang Fu-kwok, 34, and crewman Dickson Chan Man-tik, 31, whose helicopter crashed close to the pass while heading to airlift three patients from Cheung Chau on August 26, 2003.
The Lantau district crime squad is investigating the case as criminal damage.
A day after the graffiti was found, the four unions representing the service's pilots, crewmen, technicians and engineers issued a joint statement condemning those responsible.
In a letter signed by the union leaders, they described the vandalism as "an act of disrespect not only for [the deceased], but also for their family members and colleagues".
"We hope that members of the public, when airing their views, will think from the perspective of other people. We also hope that they will do so in a legal, reasonable and practical manner," the statement said.
The union officials added that its members would continue to serve the Hong Kong people with the "civil servants' principle of political neutrality".
