Hong Kong’s entertainment industry has been rocked by the horrific death of Abby Choi, a 28-year-old model. In February 2023, she was allegedly murdered by her ex-husband’s family, and her body was dismembered and scattered across multiple locations, including large garbage sites in Hong Kong. Brutal crime and the slow progress of justice continue to capture the public’s attention.
The kidnapping and murder
On February 21, 2023, Abby Choi was reported missing. CCTV footage revealed her last known movements: she was seen shopping and then being picked up by her ex-husband’s brother, who was acting as her driver. Three days later, authorities discovered his dismembered body. The killers had cut her into several pieces, stored some in a refrigerator and scattered the remains throughout Hong Kong to hide the crime.
Investigations revealed that the murder had been carefully planned in advance by Abby Choi’s former in-laws. In early February 2023, his former father-in-law rented a property in Long Wei Village, not to live there but to store weapons and plan the murder. On the day of the crime, while accompanying Abby Choi to pick up her daughter from school, her ex-brother-in-law blinded her with a blunt object, then transported her to the pre-arranged location where she would be killed and dismembered.
At the crime scene, investigators found only a few personal items, such as the bag, identity documents and some personal effects. Abby Choi had reportedly been arguing with her former in-laws for about an hour before the attack. To further cover up the crime, the family went to great lengths, dismembering the body and disposing of the parts. Over 100 law enforcement officers had to search garbage sites to recover his remains, but even then not all parts were recovered.
Context: family conflicts
Abby Choi was previously married to Alex Kwong, with whom she had two children. After the divorce he lost custody of his children. In 2016, she remarried into a wealthy family that owns 156 restaurant chains in China, Japan, Australia and Singapore. Despite her second marriage, she continued to support her former in-laws financially, including purchasing a luxury apartment for them and hiring her former brother-in-law as their personal driver.
In 2022, an ownership dispute arose when Abby Choi expressed her desire to sell the apartment she had purchased for her former in-laws. Hence the motive for the murder: her former father-in-law, Kau Kwong, allegedly planned to eliminate her to gain control of the property. Kau Kwong, a former police officer, allegedly used his knowledge of law enforcement to orchestrate the crime and mislead authorities.
The suspects
Authorities have identified seven suspects in the case. The four main authors include:
- Kau Kwong – ex-father-in-law, ex-police officer, supposedly the mastermind
- Jenny Li – former mother-in-law, charged with obstruction of justice by destroying call logs and text evidence; his DNA was found on clothing at the crime scene
- Anthony Kwong – former brother-in-law, helped carry out the murder
- Alex Kwong – ex-husband, involved in planning and executing the crime
Three other suspects were accused of helping the main perpetrators escape justice:
- Wu, Kau Kwong’s lover
- Lin, Alex Kwong’s close friend
- Phan Xiao Xian, Alex Kwong’s new girlfriend
If convicted, the four main suspects could face life in prison, as Hong Kong law does not impose the death penalty. Despite arrests and ongoing investigations, the case has yet to proceed to trial, leaving justice unserved even two years after the murder.
Funerals and aftermath
Abby Choi’s funeral took place in June 2023, where high-tech methods such as 3D facial reconstruction were used to honor her memory. His family suffered immense trauma, requiring long-term psychological treatment.
The killing not only shocked Hong Kong’s entertainment industry, but also drew attention to issues of domestic violence, family disputes and challenges in achieving justice in high-profile cases.
This tragic case serves as a sad reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by public figures, especially when personal and financial conflicts intersect.
