Hong Kong residents lay flowers near the North District Town Hall in Sheung Shui to pay tribute to an elderly man who died from head injuries after being hit by a brick hurled by protesters, Nov 15, 2019. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Over a week after a 70-year-old street cleaner in Hong Kong died after being struck in the head by a brick thrown by a rioter, his family on Friday grieved over the loss of their loved one, their first in public.

At the site of the incident, his son knelt down in front of the sanitation worker's portrait, saying that "rest in peace, my father." After the mourning, the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU) held a press conference for the family.

HKFTU Chairman Wong Kwok hailed the sanitation worker as righteous and responsible, saying that as Hong Kong has been recently plagued by "black violence," he dared to say "no" to violence, which is worthy of respect

"My father's death was quite sudden and I felt very sad," he said, urging Hong Kong police to bring the killer to justice as soon as possible. Police have said they were probing the case as murder.

The son also expressed his hope that his father's demise, the first death of an innocent civilian in the months-long unrest, could "put an end to hatred" in Hong Kong.

He told the media that his father had always loved the country and Hong Kong, and taught him to stand up to difficulties and dangers.

He believed that at the scene, his father was filming the rioters' irrational behavior to help police obtain evidence.

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"This time, my father did his part as a resident, and I'm proud of him," he said.

When receiving news of his father being hit in the head, the young man rushed to Hong Kong from the Chinese mainland as soon as possible, and the Hong Kong police took him to the hospital where he found his father unconscious and unable to speak.

For fear of being doxxed or threatened by rioters, the family had declined to appear publicly until such associations as the HKFTU escorted them to remember their passed family member.

HKFTU Chairman Wong Kwok hailed the sanitation worker as righteous and responsible, saying that as Hong Kong has been recently plagued by "black violence," he dared to say "no" to violence, which is worthy of respect.

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Many Hong Kong residents have also mourned for the 70-year-old man.

"The sanitation workers clear up the mess for them every day," said a man in his 20s, who declined to be named for fear of being targeted by the rioters. "But the black-clad thugs beat him to death in cold blood. Now that he is dead, they even speak ill of him online. That is totally inhuman."

Mr Lam, who is also a sanitation worker, felt sad for the dead. "Now our colleagues are both sad and worried," he said.

"Hopefully our government could end this chaos soon, and may peace return to Hong Kong," Lam added.