local · HK01

Officer Chu Chun-kwok Dies After 21-Year Ordeal

HK01 · 10 SOURCES1 day ago6 MIN

Summary

Hong Kong police constable Chu Chun-kwok (朱振國), who was gravely injured while stopping a suspicious man in Cheung Sha Wan in July 2005, died on September 16 at age 52 after more than 21 years of hospitalization and long-term care. His wife said his condition had never meaningfully improved, that his limbs remained in spasm, and that he died of organ failure with his family beside him after his daughter returned from Australia. Chu's case became one of Hong Kong's most remembered line-of-duty tragedies after he continued chasing his attacker while bleeding heavily from a neck wound, before collapsing from blood loss and suffering brain hypoxia that left him totally paralyzed. He was awarded the Gold Medal for Bravery in 2006, while the attacker later had his sentence increased to 10 years on appeal and was released on parole in 2011.

Key Points

Chu's wife said he died on September 16 from organ failure, after years without improvement, and that their daughter Michelle had already flown back from Australia.
The attack happened on July 19, 2005 outside Po On Road Municipal Services Building, where Chu stopped 23-year-old Liu Chi-yung, who was carrying a knife and planning a robbery.
After Liu slashed Chu's neck artery, Chu chased him for about 50 meters before collapsing; the blood loss caused brain oxygen deprivation and total paralysis.
Liu surrendered later that day at Prince Edward MTR station, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and wounding while resisting arrest, and ultimately received a 10-year sentence.
A 2016 settlement ended compensation proceedings after Liu, who had been declared bankrupt, admitted liability but was not pursued for payment; court filings said police had paid over HK$4.94 million.

Why It Matters

Chu's death closes a case that remained in public memory for two decades because it combined frontline police risk, prolonged catastrophic injury and the burden carried by a family over many years. It also renews attention on how Hong Kong supports officers disabled in the line of duty and on the limits of compensation recovery when an attacker has no means to pay.