Hong Kong man gets indefinite hospital order for fatal 2023 mall stabbings

A Hong Kong man has been sentenced to an indefinite period at a psychiatric hospital for stabbing two women to death in Diamond Hill’s Plaza Hollywood mall three years ago.

Szeto Sing-kwong, 43, appeared at the High Court on Tuesday.

He was originally charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of 26-year-old Daniel Fong and 22-year-old Amber Lau, but the court accepted Szeto’s plea to two counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to abnormality of mind.

The court heard that Szeto repeatedly stabbed one of the women on the third floor of the shopping mall on June 2, 2023, before turning on her companion when she tried to intervene. There was no evidence that Szeto, who had just purchased the knife nearby, knew his victims.

The killings provoked shock and grief citywide, with many Hongkongers laying flowers at the mall to mourn the two women.

High Court Judge Esther Toh described the case as a tragedy and imposed the indefinite hospital order on the advice of psychiatric reports that diagnosed Szeto with schizophrenia and delusional disorder.

In Hong Kong, manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Safeguard press freedom; keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team

Support HKFP  |  Policies & Ethics  |  Error/typo?  |  Contact  |  Newsletter  | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps

Make a one-off donation.

Founded in 2015, Hong Kong Free Press is an impartial, non-profit, award-winning English-language newspaper. Run by journalists, backed by readers and 100% independent, HKFP is governed by a public Code of Ethics. If there are uncertainties relating to safety or security, we may use an "HKFP Staff" byline. More on our Ethics & Policies.