Wife of Hong Kong man set on fire tells China state media she’s ‘heartbroken’ by his injuries

Her comments were made in an interview to CGTN, the English-language arm of the official state broadcaster CCTV in China.

The man, Lee Chi-cheung, 57, was left fighting for his life after the attack, which happened on Nov. 11.

One man believed to be part of a group of masked people who had vandalised an MTR station in Ma On Shan in Hong Kong’s New Territories set the victim on fire after a dispute.

Hong Kong police have classified the case as attempted murder.

They said they had arrested one woman and one man suspected of being at the scene of the attack for “illegal assembly”.

Both suspects remained in custody.

Lee had sustained second-degree burns to 28 percent of his body.

What wife said

The victim’s 51-year-old wife asked not to be identified in the interview.

She said her husband was still in a coma and had undergone skin graft surgery on his hands. More surgical procedures are needed on his chest, abdomen and face.

She said: “I never imagined that this would happen to me.”

“The nurse said he was seriously injured. Seeing him like this, I could not speak… I talk to him, but I don’t know whether he hears me or not.”

The woman claimed her husband “never talked politics at home and never participated in any political events”.

She also said she hoped “the rioters can stop their violent acts as soon as possible and not mess up Hong Kong”.

She expressed gratitude towards well-wishers.

Widespread sympathy in China

The interview gained traction quickly on Chinese social media on Monday, Nov. 18.

Commenters on Chinese social media said it was painful to see a stranger get attacked in this manner and sympathised with the woman who has to experience something like this happen to someone so close to her.

Chinese state media promptly condemned the attack on the construction worker and father of two when it first occurred.

“Uncle Lee”, as the man has come to be known, has attracted widespread sympathy in mainland China.

Chinese state media has since ratcheted up its rhetoric against the pro-democracy protests.

Hu Xijin, The Global Times tabloid editor-in-chief, condemned the attack against Lee and likened protesters to the Islamic State terrorist group.