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Two firefighters have been suspended from duty on Wednesday after they allegedly mocked the death of a marine officer online, according to sources.
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Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s security chief said the SAR government will consider including inciting hatred as a new offense under the Article 23 national security legislation.
Sources told that the two firefighters are stationed at Ngau Chi Wan and Braemar Hill respectively, and have been suspended from duty after they were accused of mocking the death of a police marine officer who died in the line of duty days ago.
A netizen on Monday posted on social media that a suspected firefighter has gloated over the death of Senior Inspector Lam Yuen-yee, who was killed during an anti-smuggling operation on September 25.
The firefighter was said to be among a group of netizens who have made inappropriate remarks saying the police “had it coming”, adding the tragedy “calls for a celebration with champagne”. Some others also brought up the police’s handling of the 2019 protests.
In response to media enquiries concerning the incident, the Fire Services Department said there are existing guidelines for staff over the use of social media, reiterating it will conduct an investigation according to the established mechanism and take appropriate actions.
The Fire Services Department Staffs General Association was also quick to cut ties with those remarks that “annihilate humanity” in an open letter to police commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee as well as an internal notice.
“The association strongly condemns people that posted insane remarks that annihilate humanity and videos that incite hatred on social media during such a sorrowful moment,” chairman Jerry Nip Yuen-fung wrote.
Separately, speaking at a Legco meeting today, Security Secretary Chris Tang Ping-keung said the government will consider including inciting hatred as an offense under Article 23 legislation.
This came after lawmakers asked about a parody song over Lam’s death, which they said has turned people against the police and incited hatred towards the SAR government.
The security minister said the authorities will speed up their work on Article 23 in the hope that it can be completed within Legco's next term.
He said the administration will base the bill on provisions proposed back in 2003, while taking into account what has happened in Hong Kong in the past two years.
Tang pointed out that there are still may still be gaps that need to be filled with the Article 23 legislation, even the national security law has been enacted.
