Hong Kong police have stepped up their investigation into the disappearance of the ashes of late Cantopop diva Anita Mui Yim-fong by committing more resources and manpower to the case.
Mui’s family had revealed over the weekend that the urn containing the singer’s remains was discovered to be missing from Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island three months ago, complaining that police had made “no progress” in their investigation and that the incident had caused “immense distress”.
A police spokesman said on Tuesday that the case, classified as a “request for police assistance” and originally handled by Lantau district crime squad, was now being handled by the New Territories South regional crime unit. No one has been arrested so far.
Police said they would continue to maintain contact with the family and relevant parties and update them accordingly.
A police region is the highest geographical administrative level in the Hong Kong Police Force. A police district is secondary to a police region. Lantau district is under the New Territories South region.
It is understood that the escalation will ensure that more manpower and resources are allocated to the case.
Mui’s family made a public appeal for information on the whereabouts of the ashes in a statement issued on Saturday, Mui’s birthday. The singer, who died in 2003 aged 40, would have turned 63.
The statement revealed that a fan first discovered that the urn had gone missing from a columbarium at the monastery on July 18, while paying tribute to Mui. The monastery is located on the Ngong Ping plateau and is the site of the famous Tian Tan Buddha or Big Buddha.
The fan discovered that the screws on the door panel of the niche housing Mui’s ashes had come loose, and the urn inside was missing. The fan notified Mui’s family, who made a police report. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
