The gruesome murder of Abby Choi, Hong Kong model and socialite
When it was reported that prominent Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi went missing on February 21, 2023, no one would have expected that it would end up with her death being reported on Friday, February 24, in the most gruesome way.
Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of violence.
Who was Abby Choi?
Abby Choi was a Hong Kong-based socialite. She was known for being one of Hong Kong’s biggest international influencers.
Personal life![]()
Prior to her passing, Abby Choi was married to Hong Kong millionaire Chris Tam Chuk Kwan, the owner of the Hong Kong restaurant chain TamJai Yunnan Mixian.
Leaving behind four children
Abby Choi left behind four children, two from her previous marriage with ex-husband Alex Kwong, and two with her last partner, Chris Tam Chuk Kwan, the Straits Times reported.
News that shocked the world
Just two weeks before news of her murder was released, Abby Choi graced the cover of L’Officiel Hong Kong. No one could have imagined that this prominent celebrity would be found without her head on February 24.
CCTV footage reveals she met with ex-husband
According to The New Paper, midway through the investigation into Abby Choi’s disappearance, police discovered CCTV footage of her meeting up with her ex-husband, Alex Kwong, in Tai Po to pick up their children.
Missing soon after, mysterious man appears
The same report notes that soon after, Abby Choi was nowhere to be found. CCTV then captured a mysterious man dressed in black hauling several large containers that were big enough to fit a body.
Witness account from ex-brother-in-law
According to the Straits Times, Abby Choi’s ex-brother-in-law, who was also her chauffeur, was the last person to see her. Police started looking into her in-laws after concluding that the account was false testimony.
Police discover Abby Choi’s body in rented flat
According to SkyNews, police found out that Choi’s ex-in-laws recently rented an apartment in Tai Po’s Lung Mei Village. Due to the strange timing of the rental, the police looked into it and found Abby Choi’s dismembered legs in the same apartment.
Human remains found scattered
Other than her legs, police found other parts of Abby Choi’s dismembered body in the flat, with some parts found refrigerated, according to The Straits Times. However, her head, torso, and hands were not in the flat at that time.
Makeshift butchery
The same report notes that the flat had been converted from an unfurnished unit to a makeshift butchery equipped with a chainsaw and raincoats, suggesting that it had been rented with the sole purpose of disposing of Abby Choi’s body.
Three arrested, one missing
After this finding, police immediately arrested Abby Choi’s ex-in-laws on February 24. They included her ex’s father, mother, and brother. The ex-husband himself, Alex Kwong, managed to evade capture at that time.
Public outrage
Given that the murder victim was a prominent member of Hong Kong society, there was widespread public outrage when it was discovered that the perpetrators of Abby Choi’s murder were people close to her.
Ex-father-in-law used to be a cop
It was additionally shocking to the public that Abby Choi’s ex-father-in-law, also suspected of being the mastermind behind the murder plot, was an ex-cop who had even been awarded the Hong Kong Police Long Service Medal for his service back in 2001.
Betrayal of trust
It was unbelievable to the public that someone who used to be on the side of justice would be capable of hatching such a brutal murder plan, much less against his ex-daughter-in-law.
Alex Kwong’s criminal record![]()
Further, The Standard revealed that Alex Kwong was previously convicted of fraud with his gold investment business. He had also been on the run from the authorities since being convicted in 2014 and 2015 and escaping while on bail.
Manhunt for Alex Kwong
Members of the public managed to sleuth out Alex Kwong’s photo, setting off a nationwide hunt for the escaped murder suspect. Netizens posted his image all over Hong Kong internet forums and social media sites.
More damning details: The murder motive
The Straits Times reports that Hong Kong police issued another statement regarding the case. They stated that the motive behind the murder of the socialite was money and the issue of property inheritance.
Money
Dimsum Daily reported that Abby Choi had been financially supporting her ex-in-laws and ex-husband since remarrying.
Property inheritance
The Standard reports that the plot started when Abby Choi mentioned selling a property she had bought for her ex-in-laws and was intending to revoke their inheritance rights to the property.
Property was to go to Alex Kwong after Abby Choi’s death
The Standard reveals more: as Abby Choi had not registered her marriage formally with Chris Tam, the property would legally go to her ex-husband Alex Kwong after her death. This would only happen, however, if she were to die before the finalization of the process to revoke the aforementioned inheritance.
Alex Kwong caught
By Saturday, February 25, Alex Kwong had finally been apprehended, the South China Morning Post reported. Police learned of his plans to flee Hong Kong by speedboat and were able to apprehend him and take him into custody.
Abby Choi’s head
On Sunday, February 26, Abby Choi’s head was found in a soup pot. It had been cooked with other ingredients in the same rented apartment.
In a soup pot
The Standard reports that the head was not discovered during the initial raid of the flat. The finding was pending a report from forensic experts who had to investigate the soup pot’s contents first.
Inheritance revoked by law
Hong Kong courts have ruled that, since her death was premeditated by the legal inheritors themselves, the acquisition of the property would be treated as illegal and their inheritance rights revoked.
Investigations still ongoing
Investigations are still ongoing, as Abby Choi’s torso and hands have yet to be found.
