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More than 100 heavily armed police secure North Kowloon courtroom as pair face multiple firearm charges

Hong Kong's most-wanted armed robber appeared in court amid tight security yesterday after  his dramatic arrest on Christmas Eve when he was caught in a hideout with an arsenal of weapons.

Kwai Ping-hung,   also known as Guan De Rong,  43, was ushered into the dock in  the North Kowloon Magistrates' Court by five correctional services officers shortly after 10am.

The officers separated him from his co-accused, 46-year-old Ng Chun-keung,  also known as Chen Yunjing.

Magistrate Gary Tallentire was told the pair faced three charges - possession of arms without a licence, possession of ammunition without a licence, and possession of explosive substances.

No plea was entered.

Describing the pair as 'ruthless, violent' defendants, Superintendent Simon So Kam-sing  told the court that when police raided flat 29 on the 12th floor of the Man King Building in Yau Ma Tei early on Christmas Eve, they found one AK-47, two shotguns, six 7.62mm pistols, one .45-calibre pistol and 882 rounds of ammunition.

Three People's Liberation Army (PLA) Type 1  hand-grenades, two Russia F1 hand-grenades, and two PLA Type 67 hand-grenades were also found.

Mr So  told the court Kwai was the 'most-wanted armed robber' in Hong Kong and was believed to be responsible for 16 hold-ups and shootings  in the past 20 years.

He said that when the suspect was arrested,  he refused to divulge his name, with investigators having to wait for a fingerprint examination to confirm his identity.

Mr So said police had been watching Kwai, who was seen carrying a suitcase later found to contain the arms, ammunition and explosives from a nearby building to the Yau Ma Tei flat.

Kwai admitted he knew of the existence of the weapons, the officer alleged.

Mr So told the court that investigators 'strongly believed' Ng, who appeared in court without legal representation, was responsible for two other armed robberies.

He also alleged Ng admitted knowledge of the weapons found inside the suitcase and flat.

'He said under caution that [Kwai] asked him to do a robbery together,' Mr So told the court.

Ng told investigators the flat was a 'safe house' rented out in a false name, Mr So said.

Further fingerprint examinations were still being carried out, with investigators also collecting samples of the men's DNA, said Mr So, who 'strongly opposed' bail.

He then asked Mr Tallentire to remand the prisoners into police custody to 'facilitate  further inquiries in respect of the serious cases alleged'.

He also said authorities had organised 50 'victims and witnesses' to identify the pair in a line-up that would be easier if the two were in custody.

Mr Tallentire ordered the pair be held in custody until December 31, when they would appear in Eastern Magistrates' Court.

Hong Kong police threw a tight net around yesterday's proceedings.

Officers from the Police Tactical Unit were highly visible, clad in black combat uniforms and camouflaged fatigues.

All were armed with shot guns and automatic weapons and wore bullet-proof vests and helmets. Everyone entering court had to produce identification and was subjected to body and bag searches.

Outside court, Organised Crime and Triad Bureau Chief Superintendent Fung Kin-man  said more than  100 officers had been involved in locking down the North Kowloon Magistrates' Court.



HK's 'most-wanted robber' in court