Policeman Kong Xiaoyan, who died while on duty during China's fight against the snow disaster, has Monday been posthumously conferred with the title of hero and model of all Chinese policemen.

Kong made significant contribution to people's safety and the service of expressway traffic in the snow-hit area, according to Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu.

When the worst snow in decades struck the north part of Shaanxi province, he worked on the front-line to fight against the extreme weather. He was on duty for more than 10 days consecutively, directing traffic flow and voluntarily offer help to stranded people.

Kong, a married man of 33, of the traffic police branch of Yan'an in the northern part of the province, died in a traffic accident on February 2 while on patrol. Had he not been working Kong would have been back home with his wife and a seven-year-old daughter.

"He dealt with every case as perfectly as he could," said his colleague Shang Shengwei who witnessed the tragedy.

Kong is the third policeman to die during the snow disaster.

Zhang Xinmin, from the eastern Anhui Province, and Ou Guangquan, from the south Guizhou Province, were also posthumously conferred with the title of hero and model of all Chinese policemen on Saturday.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2008)