Hong Kong’s most wanted: a look at police bounties offered for some of the city’s notorious crimes
- From the ‘king of thieves’ to a ‘devil cop’, high-profile cases over the decades have sparked rewards of up to HK$2 million from the force for the capture of suspects
- In the wake of the latest HK$1 million rewards for each arrest of eight suspects under the national security law, the Post takes a look at other past sums
The move, together with the court warrants for each arrest obtained by national security police, marked the first time authorities have put up bounties under the legislation since it took effect on June 30, 2020.
The Post takes a look at other police rewards offered for notorious crimes in Hong Kong through the decades.
HK$2 million: Kwai Ping-hung and gang members
Kwai, known as the “king of thieves”, illegally entered Hong Kong from mainland China in 1980 and was suspected of committing 20 armed robberies over three decades. He also shot and wounded two police officers in Mong Kok in May 2001.
Police posted a record HK$2 million reward for the capture of Kwai and had Interpol issue a red notice for the man in July that year.
Kwai was arrested on Christmas Eve 2003 when Special Duties Unit (SDU) officers made the biggest seizure of firearms in nearly 30 years. In 2005, Kwai was given a total jail term of 24 years. He was released from Stanley Prison in 2020 after serving 16 years behind bars and was deported to the United States as he held a US passport. He did not hold an HKID card as he was an illegal immigrant, according to local media.