TW: Distressing themes of death and violence
Hong Kong socialite and fashion model Abby Choi, mother to four, seemed to have the picture perfect life—the style icon often attended Paris Fashion Week and was featured in magazines such as Elle and Harper’s Bazaar. Born to a wealthy family who ran a prominent construction business in mainland China, Abby Choi Tin-fung was a self-proclaimed fashionista well-liked by couture brands. Just a few weeks ago, Abby graced the cover of L’Officiel Monaco, a luxury fashion and lifestyle magazine, and she posted about the achievement with gratitude on her Instagram with over 100,000 followers.
Yet on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, Abby Choi was reported missing. And only a few days later, a few of her body parts were recovered in an apartment in Lung Mei Tsuen, a suburban village on the east coast of Hong Kong.
The gruesome details of her murder shook Hong Kong—often listed as one of the safest metropolises in the world with a remarkably low level of violent crime—and began an inquiry into what led to her traumatizing death. Abby Choi’s first marriage in 2012 to Alex Kwong ended in divorce in 2016. The socialite went on to pursue a relationship with Tam Chuk Kwan, whose father had founded TamJai Yunnan Mixian, a well-known casual restaurant chain. However, despite divorcing Kwong, Abby was apparently still financially taking care of her ex-husband and his family. She reportedly maintained good relations with Kwong’s relatives, even as far as referring to Anthony Kwong, Alex’s brother, as her own brother. Anthony Kwong served as her personal driver, and the two opened a pancake stall together.
Yet Abby’s relationship with her ex-husband’s family began to turn sour after she began making plans to sell the luxury apartment she bought for the Kwong family and her two children with Alex Kwong. Although Abby paid for it, it was registered under her ex-husband’s father’s name, who allegedly arranged the mortgage agreement as such to avoid paying nearly $8 million Hong Kong dollars ($1 million US dollars) in stamp duty. Alex Kwong’s father, Kau Kwong, vehemently opposed her decision to sell the apartment.
Abby’s financial rearrangements greatly angered her ex-husband and his family, who decided at that point to begin plotting her murder. Police reported that the scheme was premeditated, with Kau Kwong renting out an apartment to dismember Abby’s body. When police discovered the apartment, they noted that it was essentially a butcher’s shop, equipped with an electric saw, meat grinder, hammer, and choppers. The apartment was covered in plastic material, and the Kwongs wore face shields and black protective outerwear to prevent blood from splattering on them. In the refrigerator of the apartment were two dismembered legs and pots of soup containing human remains.
Alex Kwong’s parents and brother were swiftly detained, but initially, police were unable to locate Alex. Later on, they caught him trying to escape on February 25 via speedboat.
In light of Women’s History Month, the tragic case of Abby Choi emphasizes the prevalence of violence against women, especially in relationships. It is important to highlight that violence against women can take on many forms, including physical, financial, and mental abuse, as witnessed in Abby Choi’s story. According to the World Health Organization, about 1 in 3 women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Femicide, or the gender-based killing of women, has been described as a “silent epidemic” in the United States. In fact, of all femicide cases in high-income countries, 70% occur in the US.
Reducing such distressing statistics begins with reenvisioning cultural and societal norms. Patriarchal and oppressive values that perpetuate violence against women must be confronted. Even subtle and more culturally accepted ideologies such as pornography or demeaning music must be challenged to combat the degradation of women. As Women’s History Month continues, I encourage you to hold space for such discourse in your conversations with your friends and family, and think more about holding yourself and others accountable for a more equitable and safe society.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.