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Clifford Lo

The son of billionaire toy tycoon Francis Choi yesterday escaped an ambush by five suspected kidnappers who sandwiched the vehicle driving him to school between two goods vans outside his Sha Tin house.

The 16-year-old schoolboy - whose father, 55, is known as the toy king of Hong Kong - was seized by the men but escaped and ran 100 metres back to his home. Two of the attackers armed with an axe and a hammer had smashed the vehicle's windscreen and tried to drag the boy away.

The attackers targeted the seven-seater car at about 7.30am as it drove out of the home in Hung Kiu Lane.

Senior Superintendent David Ip Wai-keung from New Territories South Regional crime unit said: 'The car was sandwiched between two goods vans, with the dark blue van ramming the car from behind.

'Five men covering their mouths and noses with towels and wearing hats jumped out of the vans. Two of them, armed with an axe and hammer, smashed the windscreen. The driver ordered the boy to flee when he was punched.

'The schoolboy was stopped and hit over the head with an unknown object but put up a struggle and managed to run back to the house. At the same time his servants heard the noise and ran out to check.'

Mr Ip said the five attackers jumped into one of the vans and sped away. Officers suspected both were stolen vehicles.

The schoolboy, who suffered minor head injuries, and the chauffeur, were both treated at Prince of Wales Hospital and discharged.

A police source said the force had offered protection to Mr Choi and his family but the offer had been rejected.

Mr Choi told officers that he had no enemies or disputes and he had not been blackmailed.

He was not available for comment on the incident.

Mr Ip said the case had been classified as criminal damage and wounding.

Mr Choi, a father-of-four, made much of his fortune from dealing in Cabbage Patch Kids dolls in the 1980s. He is the chairman of toy manufacturer Early Light International Holdings, and won a Hong Kong Young Industrialist award in 1989.

He has a collection of 30 luxury cars including Rolls-Royces, Ferraris and Porsches at his 50,000 square feet home.

In July last year, the nine-year-old son of actress-director Sylvia Chang Ai-chia, was abducted. He was rescued by police after a 10-day ordeal in which he was carried around in a suitcase and a ransom demanded from his family.

In March 1999, property tycoon Chan Kwai-hung was kidnapped in Wan Chai.

He was rescued unharmed after his family paid a $30 million ransom.

Police caught five suspects and recovered the money. He later died of heart disease.



Toy tycoon's son flees suspected kidnap bid