Hong Kong Officer Paralyzed in 2005 Knife Attack Dies in His Fifties

Jacky Chu Chun-kwok was a Hong Kong police constable doing a routine stop-and-search in 2005 when a man attacked him with a knife. The wound to his neck was severe and he bled heavily. Even so, he kept chasing the attacker rather than stopping to treat himself. That decision cost him dearly: he was left paralysed and bedridden for the next 21 years.

For his courage that day, Chu received a bravery medal. He never returned to normal life. On Wednesday, at some point in his fifties, he died — 21 years after the attack that changed everything. News of his death was confirmed by the South China Morning Post through a source, and his story has quickly spread across the city.

The police force's management has said it supports burying Chu at Gallant Garden, a dedicated section of Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery reserved for public servants who died in the line of duty. Frankie Leung Chun-kit, chairman of the Junior Police Officers' Association, said he had also suggested a funeral with full police honours, or at least police honours, to recognise Chu's service.

So what does this mean for an ordinary reader? It is a reminder that the people who do everyday, unglamorous work — checking bags, patrolling streets — can pay an enormous price in a single unexpected moment. It also shows how a city decides to say thank you, and how long that gratitude can last. Chu's death closes a 21-year chapter, but the argument over how to honour him is only beginning.