With 3D reconstruction, Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi finally put to rest after gruesome murder

The graphic details of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi's death on February 24, 2023, shocked not only Hong Kong but the entire world. We've put together a summary of the entire investigation as well as the most recent developments in the case, with her finally being laid to rest on June 20.

Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of violence.

(All images are from Abby Choi, @xxabbyc / Instagram; unless stated otherwise)

Abby Choi was a Hong Kong-based socialite. She was known for being one of Hong Kong's biggest international influencers.

Prior to her passing, Abby Choi was married to Hong Kong millionaire Chris Tam Chuk Kwan, the owner of the Hong Kong restaurant chain TamJai Yunnan Mixian.

Abby Choi left behind four children, two from her previous marriage with ex-husband Alex Kwong, and two with her last partner, Chris Tam Chuk Kwan, the Straits Times reported.

Just two weeks before news of her murder was released, Abby Choi graced the cover of L’Officiel Hong Kong. No one could have imagined that this prominent celebrity would be found without her head on February 24.

According to The New Paper, midway through the investigation into Abby Choi's disappearance, police discovered CCTV footage of her meeting up with her ex-husband, Alex Kwong, in Tai Po to pick up their children.

The same report notes that soon after, Abby Choi was nowhere to be found. CCTV then captured a mysterious man dressed in black hauling several large containers that were big enough to fit a body.

According to the Straits Times, Abby Choi's ex-brother-in-law, who was also her chauffeur, was the last person to see her. Police started looking into her in-laws after concluding that the account was false testimony.

According to SkyNews, police found out that Choi's ex-in-laws recently rented an apartment in Tai Po's Lung Mei Village. Due to the strange timing of the rental, the police looked into it and found Abby Choi's dismembered legs in the same apartment.

Other than her legs, police found other parts of Abby Choi’s dismembered body in the flat, with some parts found refrigerated, according to The Straits Times. However, her head, torso, and hands were not in the flat at that time.

The same report notes that the flat had been converted from an unfurnished unit to a makeshift butchery equipped with a chainsaw and raincoats, suggesting that it had been rented with the sole purpose of disposing of Abby Choi’s body.

After this finding, police immediately arrested Abby Choi’s ex-in-laws on February 24. They included her ex's father, mother, and brother. The ex-husband himself, Alex Kwong, managed to evade capture at that time.

Given that the murder victim was a prominent member of Hong Kong society, there was widespread public outrage when it was discovered that the perpetrators of Abby Choi's murder were people close to her.

It was additionally shocking to the public that Abby Choi’s ex-father-in-law, Kwong Kau, also suspected of being the mastermind behind the murder plot, was an ex-cop who had even been awarded the Hong Kong Police Long Service Medal for his service back in 2001.

It was unbelievable to the public that someone who used to be on the side of justice would be capable of hatching such a brutal murder plan, much less against his ex-daughter-in-law.

Further, The Standard revealed that Alex Kwong was previously convicted of fraud with his gold investment business. He had also been on the run from the authorities since being convicted in 2014 and 2015 and escaping while on bail.

Members of the public managed to sleuth out Alex Kwong’s photo, setting off a nationwide hunt for the escaped murder suspect. Netizens posted his image all over Hong Kong internet forums and social media sites.

The Straits Times reports that Hong Kong police issued another statement regarding the case. They stated that the motive behind the murder of the socialite was money and the issue of property inheritance.

Dimsum Daily reported that Abby Choi had been financially supporting her ex-in-laws and ex-husband since remarrying.

The Standard reports that the plot started when Abby Choi mentioned selling a property she had bought for her ex-in-laws and was intending to revoke their inheritance rights to the property.

The Standard reveals more: as Abby Choi had not registered her marriage formally with Chris Tam, the property would legally go to her ex-husband Alex Kwong after her death. This would only happen, however, if she were to die before the finalization of the process to revoke the aforementioned inheritance.

By Saturday, February 25, Alex Kwong had finally been apprehended, the South China Morning Post reported. Police learned of his plans to flee Hong Kong by speedboat and were able to apprehend him and take him into custody.

On Sunday, February 26, Abby Choi’s head was found in a soup pot. It had been cooked with other ingredients in the same rented apartment.

The Standard reports that the head was not discovered during the initial raid of the flat. The finding was pending a report from forensic experts who had to investigate the soup pot's contents first.

Hong Kong courts have ruled that, since her death was premeditated by the legal inheritors themselves, the acquisition of the property would be treated as illegal and their inheritance rights revoked.

Investigations are ongoing, as Abby Choi’s torso and hands have yet to be found.

South China Morning Post reports that seven have now been caught for their role in Abby Choi's murder. Other than the four mentioned in Alex Kwong's family (himself, his father, mother, and brother), three more people have been found to have been involved in plotting this gruesome murder.

A woman named Ng was arrested on suspicion of assisting in the murder by booking the flat where the murder occurred. The woman has been identified as Kwong Kau's mistress.

Ng is also being investigated for her role in assisting Alex Kwong in evading police capture prior to his arrest by renting him a luxury flat in Kowloon to hide from authorities.

Two more individuals have been arrested for assisting Alex Kwong in the provision of the yacht Alex Kwong was intending to use to escape to Macau. The two are yacht rental agent Lam Shun, and influencer Irene Pun Hau-yin.

Irene Pun Hau-yin's relation to Alex Kwong has not been revealed thus far, but South China Morning Sea reports that the influencer had arranged for the yacht in Alex Kwong's escape attempt despite "knowing or believing him to be guilty" of murdering Abby Choi.

(Image: punhauyin on Instagram)

Given Irene Pun Hau-yin's social media status as an influencer, avid cook and food blogger, it's especially ironic that she was involved in Abby Choi's murder. Netizens have flocked to her social media accounts, linking her food-related posts to the discovery of Abby Choi's remains in human soup.

(Image: xxabbyc, punhauyin on Instagram

Months after her heinous murder, Abby Choi is finally laid to rest. According to Today Online, her arms and torso have yet to be found, complicating the process of her vigil. Furthermore, because her head was discovered in an unrecognisable state, family members have sought to recreate her face using 3-D printing so that family and friends can better mourn her.

According to those who attended Abby Choi's vigil, the 3-D bioprint reconstruction of Abby Choi's body was a success, according to The Straits Times. Her cremation took place on June 20, 2023.