Tourist Killed in Hong Kong in Fight over Forced Shopping

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Tourist Killed in Hong Kong in Fight over Forced Shopping

A Mainland tourist was killed in Hong Kong during a shopping tour after a fight in a Hung Hom jewelry store. A Mainland man and a woman on the tour complained that the shop was too expensive, and that there were not enough deals.

The woman, Zhang, 53, started smoking in the shop, and causing a scene. The man, Miao, 54, tried to mediate but was brought into the fray. He was hauled outside and brutally beaten.

The victim was taken the hospital where he died less than 24 hour later on October 10 at 10 am. The case was reclassified as murder case.

Hong Kong police arrested three men and are looking for two or three more involved in the case. Police are currently investigating whether the assaulters were part of a criminal network.

The incident sent shockwaves through the Hong Kong tourism industry, and the public condemned the act of violence.

The Mainland tourists were part of a three day, two night shopping tour. The tour group arrived in Hong Kong from Shenzhen on the 20th, and were scheduled to depart for Macau the next day.

 

[harimau]

Crazy people now kill for paper money!

 

[syed putra]

Even the worst umno red shirts won't treat tiongs this way. Chinese treat their own like shit.
Umno red shirt used the term chinababi and was condemned. But hongkies called tiongs locusts and nothing happened.

 

[looneytan]

Even the worst umno red shirts won't treat tiongs this way. Chinese treat their own like shit.
Umno red shirt used the term chinababi and was condemned. But hongkies called tiongs locusts and nothing happened.

Claire called me Long also nothing happened what!

 

[Patriot]

Mainland tourist's Hong Kong shopping trip ends with him getting beaten to DEATH

A Chinese tourist died in a Hong Kong hospital earlier this morning after he was beaten unconscious yesterday afternoon by a gang of four men in a confrontation that started in a jewelry shop.

The beating allegedly took place because Miao Chunqi, a 53-year-old construction contractor from Heilongjiang, was trying to mediate in a fight between one of his female colleagues and their tour group leader.

According to NetEase, the tour group of 19 mainland tourists were visiting a jewelry shop on Man Lok Street in Hung Hom. The conflict began when one woman on the tour did not want to make a purchase and began arguing with the tour group leader, the argument turned into a fight.

Miao tried to come between the two, but was then attacked by a gang of four men. They dragged him outside the shop and continued to beat him, fleeing the scene before police arrived.

Investigators found Miao lying unconscious outside the shop. Hong Kong police have said that the case would be classified as manslaughter. They have arrested the local tour guide and a mainland tour leader in connection with the attack, as well as two men, while two more suspects are still being sought as part of the case.

According to police, the autopsy revealed no serious injuries on Miao's body and they have yet to establish a cause of death.

Hong Kong retailers recently suffered through their "worst Golden Week ever" earlier this month with many mainland shoppers choosing Japan instead.
Times must be tough.

[Images via NetEase]


Contact the author of this article or email [email protected] with further questions, comments or tips.

By Alex Linder in News on Oct 20, 2015 11:58 PM

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Tiongs hamtum tiongs or hongkies hamtum tiongs?
Either way a dead Tiong is a good tiong.....
Hope this publicity will make crass tiong tourists behave themselves

 

[zookeeper]

Tiongs hamtum tiongs or hongkies hamtum tiongs?

Think it is fake tourists hamtum the real tourist, within the same ah tiong shopping tour group.

Maybe the man acted smart by telling the woman to stop buying from the chop carrot head shop. No purchases, no commissions for fake tourists.

 

[laksaboy]

It's a Tiong tourist. Well done Hongkies. Ho yeh! Sai lek!

 

[Dynasty]

‘Tell us the truth’: Distraught family of mainland Chinese tourist who died in Hong Kong shop fracas demand answers

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 22 October, 2015, 4:31pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 22 October, 2015, 11:20pm

Samuel Chan and Shirley Zhao

Miao's family demanded an explanation for his death. Photo: Nora Tam

The emotional family of a mainland Chinese tourist allegedly beaten to death in a dispute over “forced shopping” at a Hong Kong jewellery store today demanded a proper explanation for his death after identifying his body.

Miao Chunqi, 54, died on Tuesday at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a day after he was allegedly dragged out of the Hung Hom store by a group of men and repeatedly kicked when he tried to play peacemaker in a fight between a colleague and a tour guide.

“I will defend my own rights. We are owed a proper explanation,” said Miao’s wife, when asked what action she would take after emerging from the Kwai Chung public mortuary this afternoon.

“This is unacceptable. A group of people travelled happily together [to Hong Kong] for sightseeing but then suddenly someone was beaten to death.

“What’s going on here? Does it have anything to do with this tour group or jewellery shop? How could someone be beaten to death in broad daylight?”

“My husband was perfectly healthy.”

Tour group leader Deny Haiyan (left) appears at Kowloon City court on Thursday. Photo: Edward Wong

Miao’s wife, who was visibly shaken, was supported by her daughter and son-in-law, who held her up at either side. They were joined by four other relatives.

“This is plain fascism!” cried another man in Putonghua, who escorted Miao’s wife to the mortuary.

“You would know what I was talking about if you got a chance to see the look on [Miao’s] face.”

The group was also joined at the mortuary by Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung and chairman Michael Wu Siu-ieng.

The pair from the tourism regulatory body did not answer media questions when they left for the Miao family’s hotel.

 

[Dynasty]

Shenzhen tour escort denies hitting mainland Chinese tourist killed in Hong Kong jewellery shop beating, court hears

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 22 October, 2015, 1:54pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 22 October, 2015, 7:42pm

Samuel Chan
[email protected]

The suspects are escorted to court. Photo: Edward Wong

A Shenzhen tour escort accused of killing a mainland Chinese tourist during a dispute at a Hong Kong jewellery shop did not hit the victim, a court heard today.

Tour escort Liu Yang, 32, and Hong Kong tour guide Ricky Woo Yin-nam, 44, appeared before Kowloon City Court jointly charged with manslaughter for the killing of Miao Chunqi, 54, on Monday outside D2 Jewellery in Hung Hom. No plea was made.

The prosecution said Liu acknowledged he had dragged the victim out of the shop but “denied hitting anyone”.

Woo, meanwhile, told police officers under caution he had grabbed and kicked the deceased, the prosecution said.

The prosecution pointed out that CCTV footage showed several assailants punched the victim after dragging him out of the shop. “One or two more persons involved” are still wanted, the prosecution said.

While Liu did not apply for bail, Woo’s bail request was denied, as Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen pointed to his potential grounds for absconding, the serious nature of the allegation against him, and the fact other suspects were still at large.

Miao died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Yau Ma Tei, on Tuesday.

Police also arrested two women – aged 32 and 53 – in connection with the case, for fighting in a public place. They have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

The magistrate granted the prosecution’s request to have the case adjourned for another mention at the same court on December 22 to allow time for further police inquiries, autopsy and forensics examinations, locating other alleged assailants and identifying any independent witnesses.

 

[Dynasty]

Tourism watchdog probes low price tours, 'forced' shopping in wake of mainland Chinese man killed in jewellery shop

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 22 October, 2015, 12:01pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 22 October, 2015, 7:55pm

Staff Reporters

Police stand guard outside a Hung Hom jewellery shop where a mainland tourist was allegedly beaten on Monday. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong’s tourism watchdog is investigating whether excessively low fees were paid by a mainland Chinese tour group joined by a tourist who died in the city this week after he was beaten when he tried to mediate in a jewellery shop row.

The Travel Industry Council is checking how much a mainland tour agency and agency Tian Ma International (Hong Kong) Travel Limited charged tourists joining the group.

Council chairman Michael Wu Siu-ieng said the tour agency could have breached mainland tourism laws if the fees it charged were “below the tour’s costs”.

“If this was the case, we will ask the National Tourism Administration to follow-up,” Wu said during an RTHK talk show on Thursday.

Probe: Michael Wu said the council is investigating the price of the tour. Photo: Dickson Lee

Wu was asked if media reports that the tour fee was 300 yuan (HK$366) were correct. He said the council was checking the price, adding that 300 yuan would seem an excessively low price.

Low-cost tours targeting mainland tourists often feature visits to shopping outlets in the city, such as jewellery shops.

Yiu Si-wing, legislator for the tourism sector, said some low-cost tours organised by mainland agencies had hired “shadow tour members”, whose job was to persuade other visitors to buy more during their trips.

He said it used to be Hong Kong-based tour guides who performed the task of talking the tourists into buying more.

But in the past year, Yiu said mainland tour agencies had started to deal directly with Hong Kong shops so they could earn commission to make up for their low tour fees.

“The Hong Kong-based tour guide performs their duty as a tour guide. The mainland [shadow tourists] will take up the role of persuading others to buy things,” Yiu said.

He said this practice often led to complaints from tourists.

On Tuesday, mainland Chinese tourist Miao Chunqi, 54, died after he was allegedly beaten a day earlier outside a Hung Hom jewellery store during a shopping dispute.

Joseph Tung is assisting the victim's family. Photo: Dickson Lee

The tourist’s death prompted a rare call from the nation’s tourism authority for Hong Kong to protect the rights of mainland travellers.

Two men – one from Hong Kong and the other a tour group leader from the mainland – have been arrested in connection with the tourist’s death. Police are looking for two other suspects in the case.

Upon learning the news of Miao’s death, his relatives, including his wife, daughter and daughter-in-law flew to Shenzhen, where they were met by Hong Kong tourism representatives. They will visit a mortuary in Kwai Chung on Thursday afternoon.

Joseph Tung Yao-chung, executive director of the Travel Industry Council, who is assisting the relatives, said: "I have eaten breakfast with the relatives and the police are now asking them questions. They are calm but are still feeling bad.

"The council is investigating with the Shenzhen Tourism Bureau the documents submitted by Tian Ma International (Hong Kong) to find out what went wrong.

"We hope we can make a decision soon and we may seek help from police.

"Our rule is clear: [Hong Kong] travel agencies must only deal with licensed [mainland] travel agencies. If we find any forgeries in documents, we will refer the matter to police."

Tung added mainland officials would arrive in Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon to understand more about the incident.

Greg So described Miao's death as a "very, very unfortunate incident". Photo: Dickson Lee

Meanwhile, attending a question-and-answer session in the Legislative Council on Thursday, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said the tourism sector should exercise “self-discipline” as new regulatory legislation would take time to complete.

He highlighted the need to keep Hong Kong’s reputation as a hospitable place, apparently in response to state-run media’s criticism over the city’s tourism outlook.

“We attach great importance to this incident. We must salvage our image as a hospitable city,” Leung said.

The government has announced it would set-up a new Travel Industry Authority to oversee the work of regulation and licensing. Leung called the legislating work “complicated”.

“We are stepping up drafting work … It will take more time than was originally estimated,” he said.

Before the body was formed, "there should be self-discipline" in the sector, he added.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung called Miao’s death a “very, very unfortunate incident” and said the issue would be handled in conjunction with the mainland government.

“The government will work with the mainland authorities to look at, on the basis of existing laws and rules, how we could intensify our effort to deal with these tour groups that force tourists to buy at designated shops,” he said. “We will look into whether any person or organisation breached any rule that has been laid out to deal with this sort of incident.”

So added: “We are currently assisting the victim’s family in all the follow-up actions and providing all the assistance required.”

Lai Ying-kit, Allen Au-yeung, Stuart Lau and Joyce Ng

 

[po2wq]

Claire called me Long also nothing happened what!

if ah claire called u botak, wil anyting happen? ...

 

[looneytan]

if ah claire called u botak, wil anyting happen? ...

I will give you both my botak!

 

[po2wq]

I will give you both my botak!

so fierce, ah! ...

 

[laksaboy]

‘Tell us the truth’: Distraught family of mainland Chinese tourist who died in Hong Kong shop fracas demand answers

Translation: Gimme a large monetary compensation!

 

[Dynasty]

Beaten Chinese tourist at Kowloon jeweller's may have died from heart attack, say sources

As more test results are awaited after autopsy, police investigate agency that hosted tour group

PUBLISHED : Friday, 23 October, 2015, 7:46pm
UPDATED : Saturday, 24 October, 2015, 2:36am

Staff Reporter

A suspect taken back to the scene of the dispute. Photo: Felix Wong

A mainland tourist who died 24 hours after he was allegedly beaten up when a jewellery shopping trip turned violent may have been killed by a heart attack, the South China Morning Post has discovered.

Following a postmortem examination yesterday, a source with knowledge of the investigation into the death of 54-year-old Miao Chunqi said: "Initial findings suggest a heart attack, but we have to wait for the results of a toxicology examination to come to a conclusion on the cause of death."

Miao died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei on Tuesday, a day after he was left unconscious in an alleged attack by four men at the D2 Jewellery shop in Hung Hom.

He and a female colleague were part of a tour group that had arrived in the city earlier that day.

Miao's death has prompted emotional calls from his family for an explanation and sparked fresh concern in Hong Kong's tourism industry about "forced shopping", in which members of mainland tour groups on cheap deals are expected to spend money at selected shops.

Separately, police last night arrested 42-year-old Lam Tuen-hung, boss of the local travel agency that hosted Miao and his tour group from Shenzhen.

The agency, Tian Ma International (Hong Kong) Travel, is under investigation after the Hong Kong Travel Industry Council complained to police that it had used forged documents.

The council's executive director, Joseph Tung Yao-chung, said information that Tian Ma submitted about the tour group might have contained a false declaration.

According to the document, a mainland-registered agency was responsible for organising the tour group in Shenzhen, Tung said. However, the mainland agency had told Shenzhen's tourism authorities it did not organise the tour, he added.

"Because of suspected forged information, we lodged a complaint to the police," Tung said.

Companies Registry documents show the firm was set up on September 14, 2012.

Lam is also sole director of Flying Horse International Travel Holdings, which was incorporated on September 8 this year. Both agencies have addresses on the third floor of Hang Fung Industrial Building in Hok Yuen Street, Hung Hom.

Neither responded to requests for comment.

On Thursday, mainland tour escort Liu Yang, 32, and Hong Kong tour guide Ricky Woo Yin-nam, 44, appeared in Kowloon City Court on a joint charge of manslaughter in connection with Miao's death.

The court heard Miao was trying to intercede in an argument between his colleague and their tour group leader from the mainland at D2 Jewellery when, according to CCTV footage, he was punched by several assailants outside the shop.

 

[Dynasty]

Police launch forged documents probe into Hong Kong travel agency linked to mainland Chinese tourist’s death

PUBLISHED : Friday, 23 October, 2015, 2:41pm
UPDATED : Friday, 23 October, 2015, 2:51pm

Clifford Lo
[email protected]

A suspect takes part in a crime scene reconstruction after the death of a mainland Chinese tourist who was allegedly beaten up on Monday. Photo: Felix Wong

Police have launched an investigation into a Hong Kong travel agency linked to a mainland Chinese tourist who died after he was allegedly dragged out of a jewellery store and beaten unconscious.

Miao Chunqi, 54, died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Tuesday, a day after he was allegedly attacked when he tried to mediate in a dispute between a colleague and a tour guide.

The probe began after staff from the Travel Industry Council went to North Point police station yesterday afternoon and lodged a compliant against Tian Ma International (Hong Kong) Travel over alleged forged documents.

The council’s executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said information about the mainland tour group, submitted by Tian Ma, might have contained a false declaration.

He said the document showed that a mainland-registered travel agency was responsible for organising the tour group Miao joined in Shenzhen.

Zhang Yueying (centre), the widow of Miao Chunqi, with her daughter and son-in-law after identifying his body on Thursday. Photo: Nora Tam

But he said the council was told Shenzhen’s tourism authority did not receive any information to indicate the mainland travel agency organised the tour.

“Because of suspected forged information, we lodged a complaint to police,” Tung said.

Police are treating the case as “request police investigation”. Detectives from Kowloon City police district have been assigned to investigate. So far, no one has been arrested.

The sole director of Tian Ma International (Hong Kong) Travel Limited is Lam Tuen Hung, according to the Companies Registry. The date of incorporation was September 14, 2012.

Lam is also the sole director of Flying Horse International Travel Holdings Company Limited, incorporated on September 8 this year.

Both travel agencies are situation on the third floor of the Hang Fung Industrial Building in Hok Yuen Street, Hung Hom but their offices are in different flats.

Miao and his female colleague joined the tour group and arrived from Shenzhen on Monday.

On Monday, Miao was dragged out of a jewellery shop in Hung Hom and allegedly beaten unconscious while trying to mediate in a dispute between his colleague and their tour group leader from the mainland. He died a day later.

Police are still searching for two other men in connection with the alleged beating.

 

[Dynasty]

Malpractice on shopping tours to Hong Kong must be stopped

PUBLISHED : Saturday, 24 October, 2015, 1:47am
UPDATED : Saturday, 24 October, 2015, 1:47am

SCMP Editorial

Mainland Chinese tourists would choose other Asian destinations over Hong Kong, according to Global Times. Photo: David Wong

Nothing damages Hong Kong's image like the news of a mainland tourist's death following an alleged assault at a shopping outlet on Monday. The 54-year-old man from northeast China was allegedly beaten up by four people in what appeared to be a shopping dispute at a jewellery shop in Hung Hom. Whatever the circumstances, the city's reputation as a tourist destination has been tarnished. The case also renews concerns over some of the industry's long-standing institutional problems.

Investigations are still ongoing. So far two men have been jointly charged with manslaughter in connection with the assault. Police are still chasing another two suspects who are believed to have fled across the border. Two women, a mainland tour leader and the victim's companion in the tour, were also arrested for fighting in public. As with other criminal cases, the police need to handle the case seriously.

This is the first fatal attack on a mainland tourist. In 2010, a 65-year-old mainlander collapsed after quarrelling with a tour guide during a so-called forced shopping trip in Hung Hom. He later died following a heart attack. The national tourism authority has expressed concerns over the incident. Some commentaries carried by mainland state media hit out at the city's growing anti-mainland sentiments. The negative publicity has dealt another blow to cross-border relations.

Until a clearer picture emerges on the latest case, finger-pointing is premature. But it inevitably puts the spotlight on some questionable institutional practices, in particular the use of commissions from shopping at designated venues to make up for packaged tours at bargain prices. Although forced shopping and low-cost tours are banned, insiders say they now exist in different formats. That means tourists are still prone to rip-off and abuse, as reflected by occasional reports of disputes between tourists and their guides over shopping and itineraries.

Hong Kong cannot claim to be a shopping paradise unless tourist dollars are spent with satisfaction and value for money. The mainland authorities should also crack down on forced shopping tours and penalise agencies for organising such tours.

We trust the tourism authorities are well aware of the negative impact of the incident and will do their utmost to put the house in order. At stake are our reputation and the economic benefits. It is in the interest of both Hong Kong and the mainland to weed out irregularities and malpractices.

 

[Dynasty]

Tour guide reportedly deaf in right ear after dispute in which mainland Chinese tourist was beaten and died

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 27 October, 2015, 5:31pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 27 October, 2015, 11:17pm

Elizabeth Cheung
[email protected]

Deng Haiyan outside Hung Hom police station where she reported that the beating had left her deaf in her right ear. Photo: SCMP Pictures

A mainland tour leader who was arrested over a dispute at a jeweller's after which a mainland visitor died claimed she was slapped so hard she lost her hearing in one ear.

Deng Haiyan, 32, submitted a report of her hearing test to Hung Hom police station yesterday, just over a week after she clashed with mainland tourist Zhang Lixia, 53, on October 19 at D2 Jewellery in Hung Hom.

"Her violence caused me to lose hearing in my right ear," Deng said outside the police station. "It has affected my family and my life.

"I hope she will respect me and apologise in person."

Deng was the leader of a group of 19 mainlanders in Hong Kong that included Zhang and her colleague Miao Chunqi, a construction contractor from Heilongjiang province.

Deng claimed she tried to stop Zhang smoking inside the shop and was slapped in the right ear. Miao, 54, was allegedly beaten while trying to mediate in the argument and died in hospital less than 24 hours later.

Deng said she wanted an apology from Zhang Lixia, whom she claimed slapped her right ear during the October 19 dispute. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Police arrested both women on suspicion of fighting in public and granted bail after questioning them for nearly 48 hours.

On Saturday, Deng undertook a hearing test at Precious Blood Hospital in Sham Shui Po and was certified as having gone deaf in her right ear.

A report from the clinical audiologist who treated her suggested "unilateral profound hearing loss in the right ear". The World Health Organisation classifies profound impairment as being unable to hear and understand even a shouted voice.

Yip Chi-wai, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Practitioners' Union, showed the medical report to the media yesterday.

"I hope the incident will not further affect tension between Hong Kong and the mainland," Yip said. "Tour guides and other [industry] practitioners will reflect on the case seriously."

A police source said Deng did not complain about being hard of hearing while she was detained for questioning.

He said police would look into her medical report and she would have her bail extended, pending further investigation.

 

[frenchbriefs]

if only sinkies had balls like hongkies.