The Abby Choi Mrder Case: A Horrific Crime That Shocked Hong Kong
The Brutal Murder and Dismemberment of Model and Socialite Abby Choi by Her Ex-Husband’s Family in February 2023
Content Warning
This article contains extremely graphic descriptions of murder, dismemberment, and violence. The details are disturbing and may be upsetting to readers. This case is presented for informational and educational purposes regarding criminal psychology and the dangers of exploitation. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
Part One: The Disappearance
February 21, 2023
According to her schedule, model Thái Thiên Phượng—known internationally as Abby Choi—was to be driven by her personal driver, Kwong Kong Kit, to pick up her daughter from school, accompanied by her ex-husband, Alex Kwong. However, that evening, the family of her current husband, Chris Tam, noticed she had not returned home. Sensing something was wrong, her current husband’s family reported her missing to the police.
CCTV Evidence
Through CCTV footage analysis, investigators observed that on that day, Abby Choi wore white clothing, carried luxury handbags and personal belongings, and got into a seven-seater vehicle driven by her personal driver, accompanied by her ex-husband. However, the journey of this vehicle proceeded in a completely different direction.
Instead of going to the school, the vehicle was recorded traveling to an area near the entrance of the Lion Rock Tunnel, where it suddenly stopped. From that moment on, Abby Choi virtually disappeared from all traces.
Through extensive extraction and investigation of dashcam footage and the GPS tracking system of the seven-seater vehicle, important clues led the police investigation to an apartment in the Tai Po area.
Part Two: The Discovery of the Body
The Horrific Crime Scene
On February 24, 2023, police raided a small ground-floor house in Lung Mei Village, Tai Po. The scene inside the house made everyone shudder:
All windows were tightly covered with tarpaulins so outsiders couldn’t see in
The place was sparsely furnished
The scene was littered with tools: meat grinders, electric saws, cleavers, hammers, gloves, masks, face shields, and many black raincoats
Police immediately discovered the victim’s purple handbag dropped at the scene
Upon more thorough inspection, police were horrified to discover a woman’s leg stuffed inside a freezer.
On the stove were two large soup pots filled with broth, minced meat, and floating vegetables like carrots and radishes.
According to forensic results, the remains found were confirmed to be those of the missing famous model Abby Choi.
Discovery of the Skull
Initially, authorities did not find the victim’s head. However, on Sunday, February 26, after forensic experts carefully examined the two pots of soup brought back from the scene, they were horrified to discover a human skull and several ribs that had been boiled soft.
The skull had a hole measuring 6.5cm x 5.5cm behind the right ear, which police determined to be the fatal wound that took her life.
Premeditation Evidence
GPS traces of the seven-seater vehicle showed it had appeared many times at this location before the day of the crime. This led police to believe this location had been prepared in advance and was not randomly chosen after murdering the victim.
The Search
Police mobilized divers, detection dogs, and landfill search teams to find the discarded body parts. However, by March 2, the search had to be concluded because the body had been cooked and scattered in terrain that was too complex.
Part Three: The Suspects
Initial Investigation
Police investigation revealed that this house was none other than one rented by Abby Choi’s ex-father-in-law since early February. Police quickly placed the ex-husband’s family under suspicion.
However, during interrogation, family members continuously gave contradictory and inconsistent statements. Not only that, the ex-husband falsely claimed that the victim had gotten out of the car midway and made excuses that the dashcam was broken. This caused the police investigation to be disrupted and faced many difficulties in the early stages of the case.
Only when the body was discovered were three suspects arrested:
Kwong Kau (65 years old) — ex-father-in-law
Kwong Kong Kit (31 years old) — ex-husband’s brother
Li Shui Heung (63 years old) — ex-mother-in-law
The Fugitive Ex-Husband
Suspect #1, ex-husband Alex Kwong (28 years old), had quickly fled.
At around 1:00 PM on February 25, police ambushed and captured him at Tung Chung Pier on Lantau Island as he was preparing to flee Hong Kong by speedboat.
When arrested, he was carrying:
500,000 HKD in cash
Luxury watches worth approximately 4 million HKD
The Criminal Network Exposed
Immediately afterward, the case exposed the criminal backgrounds of the entire Kwong family and related individuals:
1. Kwong Kau (65 years old — Ex-father-in-law) — The Cold-Blooded Mastermind
Former police officer who had earned medals
Forced to retire in 2005 due to involvement in a corruption case
Familiar with investigation procedures, orchestrated the brutal body disposal to destroy DNA evidence
2. Alex Kwong (28 years old — Ex-husband) — The Unemployed Fraudster
Had been wanted for years for defrauding 5 million HKD in gold investment schemes
Accumulated massive debts
3. Kwong Kong Kit (31 years old — Ex-husband’s brother) — The Insider Accomplice
Previously owed money to banks
Exploited the victim’s trust by working as her personal driver
Lured her to her death
4. Jenny Li (63 years old — Ex-mother-in-law) — The Enabler
Declared bankrupt by court in 2017
Though not directly involved in the killing, she knew all the plans and gave false statements to obstruct police
5. Ng Chi Wing (47 years old) — The Mistress
Kwong Kau’s lover
Accessory who rented the house for the murderers
6. Lam Shun (41 years old) and Poon Hau Yin (29 years old) — Escape Facilitators
Helped Alex Kwong attempt to flee
Part Four: The Victim — Abby Choi’s Background
Early Life
Thái Thiên Phượng (Abby Choi) was born in 1994 in Hong Kong, with ancestral roots in Wenchang, Hainan. Her past included the breakdown of her parents’ marriage.
Her mother, Ms. Cheung Yin Wah (nicknamed “Sister Five”), had married her first husband and gave birth to Thiên Phượng in Hong Kong. However, because this husband was addicted to gambling, the two quickly divorced.
Her mother later remarried a large restaurant chain owner. Growing up in luxury and indulgence, Abby Choi developed a passion for luxury brands and gradually built a solid position in the fashion world and among the upper-class elite.
First Marriage: The Ex-Husband
At age 15, Abby Choi met Alex Kwong—a friend of the same age. The Kwong family’s circumstances were very ordinary, but this didn’t stop Abby from falling deeply in love with him.
At age 18, due to an unplanned pregnancy, she married Alex Kwong and had two children (one boy, one girl).
The True Nature Revealed
However, after marriage, Alex Kwong revealed his terrible nature:
Lazy and unemployed
Wasteful spending
Making money through illegal means
From 2013 to 2015, he committed a series of thefts. He falsely claimed to be a precious metals broker to defraud four friends of nearly 5 million HKD, was subsequently arrested, and had to flee to mainland China.
Recognizing the thuggish, rotten nature and greedy calculations of her husband and his family, Abby Choi decided to divorce in 2015.
Second Marriage: Chris Tam
In 2016, she married Chris Tam, son of the founder of the famous Tam Jai Yunnan Mixian restaurant chain, one of Hong Kong’s most renowned.
The two had a grand, perfect wedding, but they had not yet officially registered their marriage legally—a detail that would prove fatally important.
Chris Tam was gentle and extremely loving toward his wife. He not only cared for his wife but also loved and treated her two children from her previous marriage very well. Even Chris Tam’s family had traveled together and had a fairly harmonious relationship with his wife’s ex-husband’s family.
Part Five: Nurturing Vipers
The ATM for the Kwong Family
Despite being divorced, blind kindness and love for her children turned Abby Choi into an “ATM” for the entire Kwong family.
Abby Choi remained extremely generous, promising to cover all living expenses for her ex-husband’s family. She always tried to create jobs for her ex-in-laws:
Invested money to open a company
Opened a snack shop (Bear Bear Snack) and made her ex-brother-in-law (Kwong Kong Kit) the director
In 2023, one of her drivers suddenly quit. Under the influence of the ex-husband’s family, Kwong Kong Kit was approved to replace that driver. She had no idea that installing her ex-husband’s brother as a personal driver was part of a carefully calculated plan by this beastly family to easily track her schedule and approach her in their later scheme.
The Luxury Apartment
Previously, she had spent tens of millions of HKD to buy a luxury apartment at Kadoorie Hill for the Kwong family to live in, and put Kwong Kau’s name on the deed to avoid part of the property tax. This became the source of conflict.
At the end of 2022, Abby Choi intended to sell this apartment and promised to arrange another house for them worth 10 million HKD. However, Kwong Kau vehemently opposed, argued, and directly threatened Abby Choi.
Part Six: The Fatal Legal Loophole
The Deadly Discovery
With the professional experience and knowledge of Kwong Kau—a former officer—when he learned that Abby Choi and her current husband had not registered their marriage, he discovered a legal loophole to seize Abby Choi’s entire fortune.
He believed that if she suddenly passed away, her entire huge fortune would automatically be divided among her biological children, including the two children she shared with Alex Kwong.
Therefore, the Kwong family calculated that they would use guardianship rights over the two children to legitimately manipulate this money.
Unanswered Questions
Many questions arose about why Abby Choi was “so good” to her ex-husband’s family. Although it was known that the person who caused Abby Choi’s old marriage to fall apart was her ex-husband who was addicted to gambling, the notable thing was that in January 2023, a photo was posted on social media showing the ex-husband’s family vacationing with her current husband’s family.
Many hypotheses were raised:
Whether her new husband and ex-husband had a homosexual relationship
Whether the ex-husband’s family held some earth-shattering secret about Abby Choi and used it to threaten her to support the entire family—true “parasites” in every sense
But these remain unverified questions and hypotheses.
Part Seven: The Crime Unfolds
Meticulous Preparation
The sinister plot was carefully prepared from early February 2023 when Kwong Kau rented the apartment in Lung Mei as a “slaughterhouse.”
February 21: The Attack
On February 21, a fierce struggle took place right when the car stopped at Lion Rock Tunnel. Abby Choi was beaten until blood splattered in the car, then taken straight to the Lung Mei apartment.
February 22: The Murder
In the early morning of February 22, neighbors heard loud collision sounds mixed with loud arguments between a man and woman for a full hour, but no one called the police.
The Disposal
On February 22, the father and brother-in-law took part of the body to dump at Tseung Kwan O Cemetery to divert attention.
The remaining body parts, including the head, were boiled at high temperatures. This technique aimed to cook the tissue, disguise it as kitchen waste for easy disposal, and completely destroy DNA traces, creating extreme difficulties for forensic examination.
Part Eight: Criminal Psychology Analysis
The Parasite Phenomenon
The Abby Choi case demonstrates how prolonged financial dependence can distort perceptions of ownership and entitlement.
The Kwong family lived as “parasites” dependent on Abby Choi’s financial support. They had become accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle without working, completely parasitic on their former daughter-in-law’s money for ten years.
The victim’s unconditional kindness inadvertently created a toxic habit of dependency. When this source of benefit was threatened (selling the house), the dependency turned into hatred and a sense of being robbed.
They considered Abby Choi’s money as naturally theirs. Greed completely obscured conscience, turning humans into cold-blooded murderers.
The Arrogant Former Officer
For Kwong Kau, the psychology of someone who once worked in law enforcement created arrogance and self-satisfaction. He believed that with his knowledge of criminal investigation, if he just dismembered and boiled the body, he could easily destroy evidence.
He thought that without intact DNA, they couldn’t be convicted. His arrogance was easily achieved thanks to the blind complicity of family and related individuals.
Part Nine: The Legal Battle
October 2024: First Conviction
In October 2024, defendant Li Shui Heung (ex-mother-in-law) was sentenced by Hong Kong Court to 18 months in prison for obstruction of justice, after a long period of detention and continuous unsuccessful bail applications.
The judge bluntly criticized her as a mother who spoiled her children and disregarded the law, because if she had spoken up to prevent them, the tragedy might not have happened.
Previously, two accomplices Lam Shun and Poon Hau Yin had also been convicted by the Court of conspiracy to obstruct justice for helping the suspect escape.
The Main Trial: September 2026
The most important legal battle—trying the charges of “Murder” and “Preventing lawful burial of the body” against the three members of the Kwong family: Kwong Kau, Alex Kwong, and Kwong Kong Kit—is scheduled to officially begin at the High Court on September 21, 2026, and will last approximately 45 days.
Asset Distribution — Justice Served
Regarding assets, the Kwong family’s bloody scheme collapsed completely. According to law, those involved in murder cases will be deprived of all inheritance rights to the deceased’s property.
Part Ten: Timeline of Events
Date
Event
2015
Abby Choi divorces Alex Kwong
2016
Abby marries Chris Tam (not legally registered)
2013–2015
Alex Kwong commits theft and fraud
Late 2022
Abby announces intention to sell Kadoorie Hill apartment
Early February 2023
Kwong Kau rents the Lung Mei house
February 21, 2023
Abby Choi disappears; attacked in vehicle near Lion Rock Tunnel
February 22, 2023
Murder occurs; neighbors hear violent struggle; partial disposal begins
February 24, 2023
Police raid Lung Mei house; discover gruesome crime scene
February 25, 2023
Alex Kwong captured at Tung Chung Pier attempting to flee
February 26, 2023
Skull discovered in soup pot
March 2, 2023
Search operations concluded
October 2024
Jenny Li sentenced to 18 months for obstruction of justice
September 21, 2026
Main murder trial scheduled to begin
Part Eleven: The Evidence
Physical Evidence
Purple handbag at crime scene
Body parts in freezer
Skull and ribs in soup pots
Fatal wound: 6.5cm x 5.5cm hole behind right ear
Meat grinders, electric saws, cleavers, hammers
Gloves, masks, face shields, black raincoats
Blood in vehicle
Digital Evidence
CCTV footage of Abby entering vehicle
GPS tracking of seven-seater vehicle to Lion Rock Tunnel
Multiple GPS records at Lung Mei location before crime
Testimonial Evidence
Neighbors hearing violent struggle on February 22
Inconsistent statements from Kwong family members
False claims about dashcam being broken
Alex Kwong’s attempted flight with cash and luxury items
Part Twelve: Psychological Profile of the Perpetrators
Kwong Kau (The Mastermind)
Background: Former police officer, forced retirement for corruption
Psychology: Arrogant belief in superior knowledge of crime scenes
Role: Planned entire operation, rented location, orchestrated disposal
Motive: Financial—maintain lifestyle, seize victim’s assets through grandchildren
Alex Kwong (The Failed Son)
Background: Serial fraudster, wanted criminal, unemployed
Psychology: Entitled mentality, criminal lifestyle
Role: Lured victim, participated in murder
Motive: Debt elimination, inheritance through children
Kwong Kong Kit (The Inside Man)
Background: Debtor, failed businessman supported by victim
Psychology: Betrayal of trust, exploitation
Role: Driver who tracked victim’s movements, participated in disposal
Motive: Financial dependency, fear of losing income
Jenny Li (The Enabler)
Background: Bankrupt, dependent on victim’s generosity
Psychology: Denial, protection of family over morality
Role: Knowledge of plan, false statements to police
Motive: Self-preservation, protection of sons
Part Thirteen: The Broader Context
Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse
This case highlights several critical issues:
Financial abuse as precursor to violence: The Kwong family’s ten-year parasitic relationship
Exploitation of kindness: Abby’s generosity weaponized against her
Legal loopholes: Unregistered marriage created vulnerability
Child custody as weapon: Using guardianship to claim assets
Systemic failure: Neighbors heard violence but didn’t report
Warning Signs Ignored
Multiple red flags that were overlooked:
Ex-husband’s criminal history and ongoing wanted status
Family’s complete financial dependence
Violent threats when apartment sale announced
Installation of family member as personal driver
Extreme opposition to reasonable property decisions
The “Too Kind” Victim
Abby Choi’s case raises difficult questions about:
The limits of generosity to former spouses
Supporting ex-in-laws for children’s sake
When kindness enables exploitation
The danger of financial entanglement after divorce
Part Fourteen: Media and Public Reaction
The case shocked Hong Kong society due to:
Extreme brutality: Dismemberment and cooking of remains
Betrayal: Murder by those she supported
Victim’s prominence: Well-known model and socialite
Family involvement: Multiple generations participated
Calculated cruelty: Premeditated over weeks
Social Media Speculation
Various theories emerged:
Relationship between current and ex-husband
Blackmail over undisclosed secrets
Reasons for extraordinary generosity to ex-family
Why marriage to Chris Tam was never registered
Most remain unverified speculation.
Part Fifteen: Lessons for Society
For Individuals
Legal protection: Ensure marriages are legally registered
Boundary setting: Kindness should not enable dependency
Financial prudence: Don’t put assets in others’ names, even family
Warning signs: Take threats seriously, especially regarding property
Support networks: Maintain connections outside toxic relationships
For Communities
Report suspicious activity: Neighbors heard violence but didn’t call police
Recognize financial abuse: Long-term parasitic relationships are warning signs
Protect the vulnerable: Even wealthy victims can be exploited
Legal reform: Close loopholes around inheritance and custody
For Legal Systems
Asset protection: Better safeguards for unmarried partnerships
Inheritance law: Prevent murderers from benefiting through proxies
Bail decisions: Question granting bail in extreme premeditated murders
Support for victims: Better resources for those in exploitative relationships
Conclusion
The murder of Abby Choi represents one of the most horrific crimes in recent Hong Kong history. A young mother who showed extraordinary kindness to her ex-husband’s family—supporting them financially for a decade, buying them a luxury apartment, creating jobs for them—was brutally murdered when she finally tried to set reasonable boundaries.
The case demonstrates:
The danger of unlimited generosity without boundaries or reciprocity
How financial parasites can become violent when their source is threatened
The exploitation of legal loopholes for criminal gain
The corruption of family bonds by greed
The importance of legal registration of relationships
How arrogance (Kwong Kau’s belief his police training made him untouchable) leads to downfall
The Tragic Irony
Abby Choi’s kindness—supporting her ex-in-laws, giving them a home, creating employment, maintaining harmony for her children—was exactly what enabled her murderers. The apartment she bought them became the legal dispute that motivated her murder. The job she gave her ex-brother-in-law gave him access to her schedule. Her generosity created the dependency that turned to murderous rage when threatened.
The Aftermath
A mother’s life brutally ended at age 28
Four young children left without their mother
A loving husband (Chris Tam) left without his wife
Body parts never fully recovered
A family destroyed by their own greed
The Kwong Family’s Scheme Failed Completely
All arrested and facing life sentences
Unable to inherit anything due to murder conviction
Public infamy
Destruction of the very children they claimed to protect
As the main trial approaches in September 2026, Hong Kong waits for justice. But no verdict can undo the horror, restore Abby Choi to her children, or erase the image of a young woman’s kindness being repaid with unimaginable cruelty.
This case will remain a haunting reminder that:
Greed knows no bounds
Evil can wear the mask of family
Kindness must be balanced with wisdom
The thin line between life and death can be crossed by those we trust most
May Abby Choi rest in peace. May her children find healing. And may justice be served.
