When an anti-communist journalist was found dead in Hong Kong, a political act was suspected at first
- Many suspected a political motive when Chan Kang-nan, a prominent anti-communist and opponent of Taiwan independence, was found beaten to death
- However, it turned out Chan had had an affair with the wife of a primary-school teacher, who killed him with a brick and a metal pipe in a jealous rage
“Police last night were hunting the killers of journalist Chan Kang-nan, who died in a brutal attack friends and colleagues believe may have been politically motivated,” reported the South China Morning Post on January 19th, 1992.
“The battered body of Chan, 48 – who wrote under the pen-name Yip Chi-chau – was found on the stairwell between the 10th and 11th floors of his apartment block in Kwan Yick Street, Western.
“Chan, a prominent anti-communist and opponent of Taiwanese independence, had been beaten about the head with a metal pipe that police found next to his body. A resident said the pipe had been in the stairwell for some time before the murder.
“Robbery was ruled out after police had disclosed they found $4,300 in cash as well as a cheque for $1,800 in his pockets. His mobile phone was also found.
“Police are centring their investigation on reports that two men were spotted running from the building soon before Chan’s body was discovered. They have appealed for witnesses who may have seen the men – possibly in blood-stained clothing – in the area between 6 and 7 pm.”