A man hired to attack a murder witness told a court yesterday he had learned the secret of life from fellow prisoners while on remand at Lai Chi Kok jail.
Kong Kwok-chu, 44, said: 'I had to meet the emotions of these people - their joy, anger, sadness and passion.
'I then realised the truth of life. Freedom is the most important thing.
'In the pursuit of money and sex they have sacrificed their valuable time.' Kong, at the High Court for sentencing, asked Mr Justice Frank Stock to allow him to prove himself a useful member of society. But Mr Justice Stock said he and his gang had targeted the key witness in a serious criminal trial.
In March last year, the gang waited outside Hong Kong businessman Tse Charm-por's mainland factory after being offered $100,000 to shoot or stab him, the court heard. But he did not appear. When their client refused to pay, they asked Mr Tse to pay them for his enemy's name. Hong Kong police arrested them and seized a stash of explosives.
Kong admitted blackmail. Ho Kin-kwok, 31, admitted blackmail and possessing explosives. So Chi-sung, 31, admitted possessing explosives.
