Death of Chow Tsz-lok

Death of Chow Tsz-lok

Chow Tsz-lok was last captured on Sheung Tak car park's security footage, timestamped at around 01:02 on 4 November 2019.
Date	8 November 2019
Time	08:09HKT (00:09 UTC)
Location	Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Coordinates	22°18′42″N 114°15′40″E / 22.31177202686483°N 114.26107318439186°E / 22.31177202686483; 114.26107318439186
Cause	Cardiac arrest due to injuries from a fall of 4.3 m in Sheung Tak Estate, New Territories, Hong Kong. Open verdict
Casualties
Chow Tsz-lok

In the early hours of 4 November 2019, Chow Tsz-lok, a 22-year-old student of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology fell from the third floor inside a car park in Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong, in the context of anti-government protests in the territory. Chow, who was clad in black clothing that had become an unofficial uniform for protesters, had been wandering alone inside the building in the moments preceding the fall. The car park was close to an area of confrontation between protesters and police.

Chow sustained multiple injuries, including a severe brain injury as a result of his fall. He died due to a cardiac arrest^[1] four days later. The death stirred great emotions as many blamed the police and the government, while the police strenuously denied responsibility for his death.^[1][2] The government failed to conduct an independent investigation,^[3] and this triggered an escalation of violence of the ongoing protests.^[4]

The Coroner's inquest found no evidence to suggest that Chow had taken part in the protest at the time. As the jury was unable to make a determination about the cause of death, the coroner pronounced an open verdict.