Police arrest 3 as hiker found dead

Hong Kong police arrested three men on Monday on suspicion of killing a 20-year-old hiker.

The case has taken a dark turn after the three suspects, friends of the victim who accompanied him on a night hiking trip on Sunday morning, claimed that the victim went missing after they separated.

Police have reclassified the case as murder and deployed an investigation team from the Kowloon East regional crime unit. The team will not rule out any new arrests after the investigation, according to the police.

The Fire Services Department said the victim, Kwok Wai-nok, an air-conditioning technician trainee, was found dead on a hillside in Lam Tin on Monday morning. He had suffered injuries to his face, neck and head caused by a sharp object, according to Detective Chief Inspector Ng Chung-wai. Officers were still looking for the murder weapon on Monday night, police said.

The police believed the deceased was lured to the location where the suspects planned to attack Kwok and bring about the death of the deceased, Ng said.

Kwok had been on a night hike with the three suspects, aged between 21 and 27, and another friend of his, according to police. The trip started from the Haven of Hope Hospital in Tseung Kwan O and was planned to end at the peak of the Black Hill, where they intended to hold war games. They were also wearing war-game clothing during the hike, according to the police.

Reports stated that after Kwok’s family found he was missing, the three claimed Kwok had received a call about 3:30 am on Sunday, after they had reached the hilltop. The three claimed Kwok said he had an urgent matter and had to rush down. He asked for the fastest way down and took a route he was not familiar with, police quoted the three as saying.

The suspects claimed that they had called Kwok 30 minutes later but he did not answer.

The suspects met Kwok a year ago after playing war games. The police will look into whether there was enmity between them.

During the overnight search, the government deployed 13 fire engines, four ambulances and a helicopter.