Donors have raised almost HK$1 million (US$128,572) in two fundraisers for the family of the 48-year-old taxi driver who was killed by a passenger earlier this month.
The alumni association of Shek Lei Catholic Secondary School, which Wai Kim-hung attended, said on Facebook Tuesday that they had received more than HK$460,000 (US$59,148).
“We feel extremely moved to announce that the committee has received overwhelming responses from teachers, alumni as well as [the] general public over the week,” the association wrote in a statement.
The fundraiser began last week and will continue through to this Sunday.
Separately, the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association raised over HK$500,000 (US$64,285), according to local media.
Wai, a night shift taxi driver died in the early hours of Oct. 12 in Sai Ying Pun. He was allegedly stabbed in the neck by a passenger.
The driver lived in Tin Shui Wai with his family, according to media reports. He had over ten years’ experience driving the taxi, usually taking the night shift but often working additional hours in the day. Wai leaves behind his wife and three children aged nine, 13 and 18.
Following a citywide manhunt, police arrested 31-year-old Matthew Choi on Lamma Island a day after the tragedy. At the time, he was drinking beer outside a store, his clothes soaking wet from the pouring rain. (A typhoon signal no. 8 warning was hoisted that day.)
The suspect has been held in custody at Siu Lam Psychiatric Center since. He appeared in court on Oct. 16, but the hearing was adjourned to allow time for the court to retrieve Choi’s psychological reports.
Choi also spent time in the psychiatric facility two years ago, after comments he made online about carrying out a mass shooting put him on police’s radar and led to officers searching his home.
Reader Interactions