‘Missing’ mother and children found safe after search

A 30-year-old woman and her two children, who triggered a police search over the weekend when they were reported missing from their Tai Po home, were found safe today.

Pan Peili, 30, took her daughter Pan Wing-sze, seven, and son, Pan Yuk-pok, two, to a Social Welfare Department shelter after they ran away from their apartment in Tung Mau Square on Friday, a police source said.

It is understood she sought refuge in the government shelter to hide from her husband who is an gambling addict.

“The family of three is located this morning and they are all safe,” the source said.

According to police, the woman’s husband reported his family missing on Saturday. A source said the couple had had arguments over money problems recently, although there were no reports of domestic violence.

Over the weekend, the New Territories North regional missing persons unit mounted a fruitless search across the city for the woman and her children and a public appeal was also made.