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Alex Lo

Two boys feared kidnapped from a playground in Tai Po last Wednesday turned up safe and sound yesterday.

  The pair confessed to going on a wild adventure fuelled by junk food in playgrounds and shopping malls across the northern New Territories. The search for Yip Ka-wai, nine, and Tong Hiu-fai, eight, was called off after a policeman spotted the tearaways at a 7-Eleven store in Fu Shin Estate, Tai Po.

  The boys admitted they knew they had been listed as missing after seeing their pictures in newspapers, but were too scared to get in touch with their parents.

  'We were out playing very late on the first night so we were afraid to call home,' said Ka-wai.

  'But now I know everyone was worried and I have promised never to do it again.

  'For the past few days we drank a lot of soft drinks and we ate chips and instant noodles.

  'We rented bicycles and played in parks and shopping malls in Tai Po and Fanling.'   Ka-wai's relieved father, Yip Siu-ching, 38, celebrated his son's return with a cake yesterday.

  'I'll never let him out of my sight again, the naughty boy. I was worried sick, but I'll let him off this time,' Mr Yip said.

  The dishevelled duo, who slept in estate staircases and had not washed for days, were otherwise in good spirits.

  When they were last seen at a playground outside their flats in Wang Tau Tong Estate, Tai Po, on Wednesday, each had about $20.

  After the money ran out, the boys collected tin cans and used papers for sale. Ka-wai still has more than $40 left from his first business venture.

  Tai Po police divisional commander Charles Mitchell ruled out any criminal element.

  'They were just two very naughty boys, but they were very switched on,' he said.



Lost boys admit to junk-food spree