The family of a suspected serial killer of prostitutes has moved house to escape media harassment, according to an organisation helping them. Hong Kong Unison, an ethnic minorities' concern group, also says ethnic groups in the city have reportedly been targets of discrimination. The group voiced worries that South Asians would be further marginalised by locals and police after the recent spate of prostitute killings. The suspect's family, which lived in Tai Po, was severely disturbed and asked the group for help, said Unison's executive director, Fermi Wong Wai-fun. 'The family is feeling so much pressure. They asked me if they should hold a press conference to tell the media not to harass them, and for the public to understand their feelings,' the rights activist said. 'I asked them not to as it would expose them even more.' The family has since moved, she said. Both Ms Wong and Zi Teng, a prostitutes' concern group, accused the police of leaking personal information about the suspect and the victims' families to the media. Ms Wong said: 'There has not been a trial yet. But the media have already quoted police sources about the suspect's pleasure in killing people, and his background. The ethnic minorities' privacy is not being respected.' More locals were also bullying ethnic minorities by calling them names, she said. Chinese neighbours 'yelled at them, saying they kill prostitutes', she said. Since early last week, more than 200 people, mostly ethnic minorities, have called her group with concerns that the murders would worsen racial discrimination. After police announced that the suspect was Pakistani, there were more anxious calls from Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Indians, Ms Wong said. 'One told me that people told him he looked like the suspect.' Ms Wong said she had also received calls from local Chinese complaining of South Asians killing people. 'One woman said, 'Even though they don't want to be discriminated against, they don't need to kill people. Will you ask ethnic minorities not to be so cruel?'' A police spokeswoman last night said the investigation was being carried out under the force's existing guidelines and that the race, nationality and occupations of those involved had no bearing on their handling of the case.
