Injured Mirror dancer Mo Li honours late father Reverend Derek Li at funeral

Dignitaries, relatives and members of the public gathered on Saturday to pay their final respects to the late Reverend Derek Li Shing-lam, whose son Mo Li Kai-yin – the Hong Kong dancer left paralysed after an accident at a 2022 concert – delivered a heartfelt video tribute thanking his father for his “unconditional love”.

For nearly four years, Reverend Li, a former Christian Ministry Institute president, had been a tireless advocate for his son, issuing prayer letters to update supporters on Mo’s condition and progress.

The elder Li, 71, died in April, a month after disclosing on his social media that he was receiving treatment for an illness related to a cardiovascular problem.

Mo has spent nearly four years undergoing intensive rehabilitation after being hit by a falling four-by-four-metre overhead video screen during a performance by popular boy band Mirror.

On Saturday, Mo was absent from the funeral service because of his ongoing hospital treatment. A pre-recorded video message reflecting on his father’s life was played during the service, in which Mo thanked him for his selfless sacrifice that allowed him to “deeply understand what unconditional love truly means”.

“I have known you for 31½ years. Only recently have I truly understood that the name ‘Shing-lam’ is the most beautiful name in the world to me, and it is also a reflection of your life,” he said.