Hong Kong police arrest ‘suspected triad member’ over fatal brawl on outlying island
- Arrest follows two-hour manhunt for suspect linked to death of 52-year-old man during brawl on Cheung Chau’s Tai San Back Street
- Source says two men had known each and were both suspected members of Sun Yee On triad group
Officers made the arrest around two hours after the fight broke out between the two men shortly before 11am on Cheung Chau’s Tai San Back Street.
The 43-year-old suspect was believed to have been high on narcotics when police located him at his home on the island, a source familiar with the case said.
The source said the man had not tried to escape or put up a struggle when officers cornered him, adding: “it seems he was not aware of the death of the victim”.
An initial investigation suggested the two men, who were Cheung Chau residents, had known each other and were both suspected members of the Sun Yee On triad group, the insider said. The duo had fought after entering into a dispute, he added.
“We are investigating whether the victim was pushed to the floor in the incident, leading to him suffering head injuries,” he said.
The force earlier said the case had come to light after a woman had reported the two men fighting in the street. Officers were dispatched to the scene, with the suspect fleeing at their arrival.
“One of the men was found unconscious at the scene suffering head injuries,” a police spokesman said.
The victim was taken to the island’s St John Hospital, where he was later certified dead.
Superintendent Wesly Tse Tan-sang of the marine police regional crime unit said an autopsy would be carried out to determine the cause of death.
He said an investigation suggested the two men had a dispute over money before they fought each other.
Police have classified the incident as a murder, with detectives from the marine regional crime unit handling the case.
Official figures showed the force handled 30 reports of homicide last year, up from 23 cases logged in 2021.
Discussing last year’s figures, police had said 15 of the 30 incidents involved domestic or family violence. All 30 cases had been closed.
