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When ‘Hong Kong bin Laden’ threatened to poison the city’s head of government, and put poisoned food in supermarkets

  • Soon after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hong Kong’s chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, was sent a letter containing a threat to poison him and two other officials
  • Ma Chiu-sing, a former prison officer and auxiliary policeman, was arrested for sending the letter and for planting poisoned food in two supermarkets

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Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa received in 2001,threatening to poison his food and drink. The writer was later arrested for threats and poison attempts. Photo: SCMP
Dave Besseling

“A [man] suspected of sending a letter addressed to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa threatening to poison his food and drink and that of his two top officials was arrested in Central yesterday,” reported the South China Morning Post on October 3, 2001.

“Signed ‘Hong Kong bin Laden’, it also said the author was not happy with the work of Mr Tung’s two top officials, Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung, whom it also threatened to poison, a police source said last night.

“Police declined to elaborate on the letter’s content but said it had no bearing on any terrorist-related activity.”

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On November 29, 2002, the Post reported that “a barber who dubbed himself the ‘Hong Kong bin Laden’ and planted poisoned food in two supermarkets within weeks of the September 11 attacks yesterday admitted to his short-lived terrorist campaign.

Ma Chiu-sing, who called himself ‘Hong Kong bin Laden’, is taken away from Hong Kong’s Eastern Court. Photo: SCMP
Ma Chiu-sing, who called himself ‘Hong Kong bin Laden’, is taken away from Hong Kong’s Eastern Court. Photo: SCMP

“Ma Chiu-sing, 45, mounted his attacks in an attempt to force the resignations of senior government officials including Tung Chee-hwa, the Court of First Instance heard.

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