Still in severe pain, but no regrets: shot student

Chow Pak-kwan said he has no regrets about being at the scene, adding that it was 'ridiculous' for the policeman to open fire. Photo: RTHK

A 21-year-old protester who was shot in the abdomen by a police officer earlier this month said on Saturday that he remains very weak and still feels “tremendous pain” but added despite that he has no regret about his actions.



Chow Pak-kwan was among a number of people who turned up at a flash mob protest in Sai Wan Ho on November 11. During the protest, he was shot at point blank range by a traffic cop, prompting a widespread outcry against the use of potentially deadly force on an unarmed protester.



The police, however, accused him of attempting to snatch the traffic policeman's gun while the officer was grappling with another protester.



Flanked by People Power lawmaker Ray Chan and his lawyer, former Democratic Party legislator Andrew Cheng at a press conference, the 21-year-old student said part of liver and his entire right kidney had to be removed following the gunshot, and he still feels severe pain in the areas around his waist.



Speaking with a very weak and husky voice, he added that doctors have warned him of an increased risk of getting diabetes or kidney diseases in the long term.



Nevertheless, Chow said he has no regrets about being at the scene, adding that it was “ridiculous” for the policeman to open fire.



The student said he thought he might die the moment he was shot but he had told himself that he must "live to see a democratic Hong Kong".



Chow was earlier arrested by the police on suspicion of illegal assembly and is currently on bail.