House with Abby Choi’s remains now on list of Hong Kong’s ‘haunted’ homes where history of murder, grisly crime and death keep prices down
- Properties with links to murder, suicide and tragedy can also impact prices of neighbouring flats, as grisly reputations hard to forget
- Unlike private buyers, those in public rental queues have no qualms taking flats with sad history
In early February, the owner of a small flat in the quiet Hong Kong village of Lung Mei Tsuen, Tai Po, found a tenant willing to pay HK$10,000 (US$1,273) a month.
Human remains and butcher’s tools found in the village flat suggest that was where Choi’s body was dismembered for disposal. Her ex-husband, his brother and his parents have been arrested in connection with the murder.
As traumatised villagers in Lung Mei Tsuen held prayers to appease Choi’s spirit and restore calm, one question remained: would anyone ever want to live in that flat again?
In Hong Kong, properties linked to murder, suicide and tragedy are often referred to as “haunted homes”, a reputation that sticks for a long time and not only lowers their potential rent or selling price but can also affect neighbouring flats.
