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A photo circulated on Instagram by friends of Chan Ka Yu

Hong Kong hiker found dead five days after he went missing in Japan

Chan Ka-yu was last known to be trekking in snowy Tochigi Prefecture, according to Facebook post on February 6

A 29-year-old Hong Kong man who was missing in Japan for five days has been found dead.

Chan Ka-yu, who was travelling alone, last posted on Facebook at 3.10pm on February 6 – the day he went missing. The post showed his location at a lake in Nikko, Tochigi prefecture, where he had been hiking. In it he mentioned that as he was just going for a warm-up, he did not wear ice crampons and got into “trouble” as he did not expect snow to pile up to a foot high.

He also said he had been walking for two hours and had not seen anyone else. He also expressed concern that he might not be able to get out of the area before sunset, adding that it had begun to snow. But he told his friends not to worry.

Chan’s friends confirmed his passing, while TVB News reported that some of Chan’s family, who went to Japan to help find him, were told by police there that they had found his body.

A friend, a former colleague, said Chan flew to Tokyo on February 5, travelling 125km north to Nikko the next day. The city is known for its shrines, hot springs and mountains.

Upon arrival at his hotel, Chan left his luggage with the staff but did not check in, she said, adding he went out for a walk at the lake.

Chan Ka-yu was travelling alone in Japan. Photo: Facebook

At around 11pm the hotel staff noticed Chan had not returned and called police, said the ex-colleague. Two days later, police were still unable to find him, and contacted the Immigration Department in Hong Kong.

The friend said Chan was last contacted on WhatsApp at around 11am on the day he went missing and last appeared online on WhatsApp about an hour later. She added that he was scheduled to return to Hong Kong on February 15.

According to the friend he was an avid traveller and hiker, and had climbed in the Himalayas.

The Immigration Department said it was in contact with Chan’s family and would provide practical assistance according to the family’s wishes. The department added it would stay in close contact and work with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Chinese Embassy in Japan and Chan’s family to follow up on the case and assist the family with aftercare arrangements.

According to Steven Huen, executive director of EGL Tours Company Ltd, there are not many tour groups that go to Nikko each year, and the destination isn’t as popular as it used to be. Meanwhile, Chun-ning Yuen, executive director of Package Tours, said the lake Chan visited is not in his company’s tour itineraries.

On the safety of the destination, Huen said that Japan as a country is largely safe and tourist-friendly, but conditions are less predictable in mountainous areas.

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