PUBLISHED : Monday, 23 November, 2015, 3:38am
UPDATED : Monday, 23 November, 2015, 3:38am
The Cenotaph in Central. Photo: Sam Tsang
The government is unconvinced by calls from a police union for a monument to honour public servants who die carrying out their duties, fearing it could become a target for protesters, the South China Morning Posthas learned.
The Administration Wing, which is responsible for the operation of government headquarters, expressed concern to the Junior Police Officers' Association that a monument outside the Admiralty offices or at Tamar Park could potentially be defaced or vandalised by radical protesters, especially after last year's Occupy Central movement.
Sources said the government felt that commemorative activities in the building were undesirable for security reasons and "did not fit in with the harmony of the headquarters".
Chan Cho-kwong, president of the association which submitted its proposal to the Civil Service Bureau in April, said he found the explanation absurd.
"The Cenotaph [commemorating war dead] is also located in a public area in Central, but has been perfectly fine over the decades, despite demonstrators' sit-in protests on Chater Road," he said. "I dare say protesters would not disrespect the deceased, no matter how angry they are at the government."
The association proposed erecting an in-wall plaque or monument in or close to the government headquarters with all deceased civil servants' names on it. Chan said they should always be respected and commemorated at a convenient public location.
Civil servants who die on duty may be buried at Gallant Garden at Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery, but earth burials there are generally subject to the six-year exhumation policy, unless permission for a permanent burial is granted. Chan said Gallant Garden was too far away.
The largest number of public servants who die on duty are police officers. Firefighters, who rank second highest, said the government should show them respect. "Having a memorial at civil servants' headquarters has a great symbolic meaning to us. It helps promote a positive image as well," said Nip Yuen-fung, chairman of the Fire Services Department Staffs General Association.
Student activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung said it was unfair for the government to point the finger at protesters on this issue. "I have no idea how this matter is linked to us," he said. "We did not destroy any government property when we protested. And for sure we would not destroy any monument if they built one," he said.
Lawmaker James To Kun-sun did not see any valid security concerns over a monument. "In terms of solemnity, the headquarters is an appropriate location. Many countries do the same," he said.
The bureau and Administration Wing told the Postdiscussions on how to take the proposal forward were under way.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1881899/hong-kong-government-gives-cool-response-police-call
