Fear and suspicion mount over British teacher missing two weeks
Friend thinks disappearance after crossing from Hong Kong to Shenzhen could be tied to looming HK$9 million property windfall in mainland China
Friends and family of a British teacher who “vanished” after he crossed the border from Hong Kong to Shenzhen more than two weeks ago fear his disappearance could be tied to a HK$9 million windfall he was expecting for the sale of a mainland property.
The disappearance of Hilary St John Bower, 60, has sparked a global law enforcement alert after his brother contacted police in the United Kingdom who in turn were understood to have gone through the international police organisation, Interpol, in a bid to get information from the mainland’s Public Security Bureau.
Last night Richard Charles, a friend and colleague of Bower’s – who has lived in Shenzhen for most of the more than two decades he has worked in Hong Kong – expressed worry.
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“Anyone who knows Hilary knows he is a pretty disorganised guy, but he was on his way to see his son. There was no reason for him to disappear.
“I do know that after buying at the bottom of the property market a good few years ago, he was expecting to be paid somewhere in the region of HK$9 million for a property he just sold in Shekou,” he added.
Charles said concern arose in light of the “complicated” property deal and that his disappearance might be connected.
He added he and members of Bower’s family were unhappy with the lack of action by police on both sides of the border. The missing man’s UK-based younger brother Robin had contacted police in the UK, he said.