Explainer | Hong Kong’s unsolved crimes: cardboard box killing, flower tomb and naked corpse among chilling murder mysteries
- City’s gory tragedies fuel online rumours and conspiracies to this day, as some wonder if killers are still on the roam
Despite its reputation as a safe city, Hong Kong is not short on crime mysteries, some of which would confound even Sherlock Holmes.
According to police statistics, a total of 45,653 crimes were reported between January and October last year, and among them, 42 were homicides, up from 18 during the same period in 2017. Numbers also show 55 per cent of crimes in the first half of 2018 remain unsolved.
Compared with other jurisdictions, Hong Kong’s figures are better – in Britain, only 9 per cent of reported crimes ended with suspects being charged or summonses issued in the 12 months up to March 2017, according to the Home Office.
Neighbouring Taiwan however, seems to be doing stellar detective work with the clearance rate for crimes reaching 94.3 per cent in the first half of 2017.
As with anywhere in the world, Hong Kong’s unsolved crimes grow into urban legends over time, with everyone having their own theory on the case. Some of the most infamous incidents have inspired books and films.
Last November, global streaming giant Netflix aired its original Hong Kong-based horror-comedy series Demon’s Path, adapted from real-life murders which made headlines in the city.
Here are some notorious cases that still send chills down the spines of residents.
