Asteroid named after firefighter who died in Hong Kong inferno

• A firefighter who died battling one of Hong Kong's deadliest fires has been honoured with an asteroid named after him.
• Ho Wai-ho, 37, lost his life in December while fighting an inferno at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po, which claimed 168 lives.
• The asteroid, previously catalogued as 34871 and discovered in 2001, is now formally called “34871 Howaiho”.
• The naming was announced by Ho's fiancée and carried out by William Yeung Kwong-yu, a Hong Kong-born Canadian astronomer and prolific asteroid discoverer.
• The International Astronomical Union praised Ho's bravery and dedication, while seven people and two firms have been charged in connection with the fire, which was attributed to a 'grossly negligent' construction firm.

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Asteroid named after Hong Kong firefighter who died in Tai Po inferno