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Clifford Lo

Detectives investigating the deaths of two  Americans at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Wan Chai suspect the two men died after drug abuse in their room, police said yesterday.
The theory came after investigations indicated that the two businessmen - Richard Victor,  51, and Paul Cherry,  45 - had the habit of taking drugs, according to a police source.
'The two men likely took drugs that led to their death. We are waiting for the results of the toxicology tests to confirm this,' the source said. 'It is possible they died of a drug overdose. At this stage, investigations have found nothing suspicious.'
Police apparently suspect the pair took  cocaine, but no drugs were seized in their hotel room.
The source said  a preliminary investigation showed the two men had drunk heavily before their death.
Officers stressed that  there was nothing to  suggest  they  were the victims of a robbery gone wrong using the date-rape drug flunitrazepam.
The men who checked into the hotel  on October 10 were on a business trip.  They were scheduled to check out yesterday. The hotel is a favourite of Chinese state leaders and celebrities.
At 3.15pm on Friday cleaning staff found  them unconscious  in their HK$4,500-a-night room on the 24th floor.   Paramedics declared them dead at the scene.
Police said there were no signs of injuries, ransacking or fighting. The case was classified as a 'dead body found'.
It is understood the two men were owners of two separate companies in the United States and involved in the import and export business.
Yesterday the  US consulate would not comment on the case or give any information about the men.
The spokeswoman said  that if a US citizen dies in Hong Kong, the  consulate would offer assistance, such as giving the victim's family a way to contact authorities, shipping the remains and collecting the victim's personal effects.



Police suspect drug abuse in hotel deaths