Luo Changqing, a 70-year-old Hong Kong cleaner, died from head injuries sustained after he was hit by a brick thrown by a Hong Kong protester during a violent confrontation between two groups in Sheung Shui, Hong Kong on 13 November 2019. Following his injuries, he was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin, where he died the next day. This incident was described as the first fatality directly attributed to the Hong Kong protests that began in 2019.
Victim
The victim was identified as Luo Changqing, a 70-year-old man, who worked as a government-contracted cleaner. He was an outsourced worker of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. The police found that Luo had no political background or inclination and was not a member of an organisation. The Federation of Hong Kong Shenzhen Associations said that he was born and raised in Hong Kong.
Incident
On 13 November 2019, a conflict between opposing groups took place on Lung Wan Street, outside the North District Town Hall, in Sheung Shui. Around noon, several people were trying to clear bricks left by protesters on the street. They were described by media outlets as residents of Sheung Shui or government supporters. However, a group of protesters appeared and argued with the group who were clearing bricks, after which the violent confrontation between the two sides erupted. During this encounter, the protesters had left after a few minutes of arguing and then came back with a group of about 30 protesters.
The fight between the two groups broke out at 11.52 am. It involved both parties hurling bricks at each other. The protesters were dressed in black, wore masks over their faces, and carried umbrellas used as protection for the fight. The incident lasted for about a minute, after which the protesters retreated under the shelter of their umbrellas.
Luo was part of the group who were clearing the street. He was also helping to clear the street, while he was taking his lunch break. The location was about 300 metres away from his workplace. During the confrontation, he was using his mobile phone to record the conflict. He did not participate in the brick throwing.
Luo was hit by a brick thrown by one of the black-clad protesters. He lost consciousness after he was hit and did not regain it before he died. He was transported to the North District Hospital and then transferred to the Prince of Wales Hospital, where he was admitted to the neurosurgery high-dependency unit. Luo's family arrived from mainland China, after which the Hong Kong Police Force escorted them to Luo who was then still unconscious at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
Luo died in the Prince of Wales Hospital at 10:51 pm on 14 November 2019. His death is described as the first fatality directly attributed to the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests.
Aftermath
The area near the location where Luo Changqing was killed, outside the North District Town Hall, became a memorial to him. On 15 November 2019, a public vigil for Luo was held at the site. However, a few days later, the on-site memorial was vandalised by unknown perpetrators.
On 22 November, members of Luo's family themselves went to the site to mourn for their deceased family member. They previously wanted to remain anonymous, citing concerns about their personal safety, but eventually went public with the support of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU). Luo's funeral was held on the same day. His relatives said that he would be buried on a family plot in mainland China. The HKFTU stated that, upon the family's request, Luo would be buried next to his father in Hunan.
Over hundred thousand people from mainland China, including the Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming, donated to funds set up in support of the families of Luo and a 57-year-old man named Lee Chi-cheung who was set on fire during an argument with protesters. Hong Kong businessman and former legislator Kennedy Wong (Wong Ying-ho), who co-founded a fund in support of citizens and small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the unrest, announced that they would look at how their fund could be used to help Luo's family.
Responses
The Hong Kong Government said in a statement that they were saddened by the incident and that the police will work to bring the offenders to justice. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department released a statement, expressing profound sadness at the passing of its service worker and saying it was providing assistance to his family. The Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan (Chan Siu-chee) said in a statement that "I am deeply saddened and extend my condolences to the family."