Two years after her husband, who was armed and struggling with mental illness, was shot and killed by a police officer, Mrs Li remains without clarity on whether an inquest into his death will be held.

On September 15, 2022, Mrs Li contacted police after her 38-year-old husband attacked her and his elderly mother at their North Point residence. Responding officers found the man armed with a 30-centimeter knife and a pair of scissors. According to police, after a standoff lasting about 30 seconds and repeated warnings, an officer shot the man at approximately 1.5 meters as he allegedly attempted to attack officers.

Mrs Li, who has used her husband’s surname in public accounts, has since sought answers, hoping an inquest will provide closure and prevent similar incidents. “It’s been two years, yet there is still no news,” she said, expressing frustration over the prolonged process and the absence of an official explanation.

At the time, then Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee defended the officer’s actions, stating that the use of firearms followed established guidelines. The police said they would submit a death investigation report to the Coroner’s Court and recommended holding an inquest promptly. However, Mrs Li says she has had little communication regarding the case since.

In February 2023, a coroner’s letter confirmed that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest. Mrs Li inquired about the status of an inquest in April 2024 and was informed that police had been requested to provide a full investigation report, with a decision pending upon its review. She has since contacted the Coroner’s Court monthly but has only been told that the investigation remains ongoing.

An officer from the Complaints Against Police Office has maintained contact with Mrs Li but declined to share details about the ongoing inquiry. Mrs Li said she stopped communicating with police after the retirement of the official who had treated her with kindness.

The protracted process has taken a personal toll on Mrs Li, who has experienced significant physical and psychological distress, including weight loss, memory issues, and sleep difficulties. She expressed deep remorse over calling the police, stating her original intention had been medical intervention rather than a fatal outcome. She also questioned why non-lethal methods such as pepper spray or shields were not used instead of a fatal shot to the chest.

In response to inquiries, police stated that the investigation report was submitted to the Coroner’s Court in June 2025, with further information provided in June 2026 following a court request. The police await further instructions. They also affirmed that complaints filed against officers are being handled impartially under standard procedures. The Judiciary declined to comment on individual cases but noted that decisions regarding inquests rest with the coroner, who may request additional police inquiries and must update the next of kin on progress and outcomes.

Under Practice Direction 39, enacted in June 2023, the court is expected to provide families with updates every three months if investigations extend beyond nine months without a decision on holding an inquest—a protocol Mrs Li says has not been followed in her case. The guidelines do not specify deadlines for submitting supplementary materials once an initial report is filed.

Community advocate Tang Pong Hung-cheong noted that cases like Mrs Li’s often depend on expert evaluation of police firearm use and protocol adherence. He added that families frequently endure anxious waits, with pre-inquest reviews dragging on before formal hearings can begin.

Legal expert Jonathan Man Ho-ching said delays of two to three years for coroner’s inquests are not unusual in Hong Kong. He attributed this to the limited number of designated coroners balancing multiple responsibilities, including routine functions and disaster-related inquiries, alongside death investigations by police, which lack a specialized unit. Man emphasized that extended delays reduce the effectiveness of inquests, as witnesses may forget details or become unavailable over time.