3rd June 2023 – (Hong Kong) The identity of the suspect in the horrific murder case that occurred at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill on June 2nd has been revealed. The 39-year-old bald man, surnamed Szeto, who had a history of mental illness, purchased a knife from a home furnishing store on the second floor of the mall and used it to kill two young women aged 26 and 22 who were strangers to him.
Szeto had been unemployed for many years and spent his days playing video games at home with his parents in the Tsz Lok Estate in Tsz Wan Shan. The family of three relied on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance to make ends meet. Three years ago, Szeto was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia after attacking his family. He was briefly remanded in Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre and was later ordered to be hospitalised at Kwai Chung Hospital. He was released from the hospital after three months of treatment and required to attend regular follow-up appointments. Last year, he applied to the hospital to be exempted from further check-ups, but his request was rejected.
According to his parents, Szeto became increasingly irritable, easily agitated, and isolated in the days leading up to the tragic incident, and they had scheduled a follow-up appointment for him on 6th June. Szeto was the youngest child in the family and had an older brother and sister. He was not known to have any disputes with his neighbours.
Since losing his job in 2013, Szeto had not made any friends and spent his days playing video games at home. In May 2020, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia after attacking his family, and he was required to be remanded in Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre. He was later ordered to be hospitalised at Kwai Chung Hospital. He was released in December of the same year, but he was required to attend regular follow-up appointments at the psychiatric department of the hospital every three months. His last appointment was estimated to be in early March, and his next scheduled appointment was on 6th June.
In August 2022, Szeto applied to Kwai Chung Hospital for a “health review” to exempt himself from further check-ups, but the hospital social worker met with his family to understand the situation and ultimately rejected his request.
The Hong Kong Police Force is investigating the case and has expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
Furthermore, one of the deceased in the case, Fong Hiu-tung (26 years old), was known to be the only daughter in her family and worked as a kitchen assistant. She was a kind-hearted person who loved animals and children. She had moved out of her family home to live with someone else and rarely returned home, mainly communicating with her family through messaging apps on her phone. Her family feels helpless and lost about her tragic death and are also saddened and angry towards the suspect. Her friends are helping her family with the funeral arrangements, and her ashes will be placed at home.