A 23-year-old Hong Kong student in Britain has been missing for over a month since her recent trip to Germany in July, leading her family to report the case to the police and seek help on social media.
Joan Lam Nga-yau, a student at the University of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, lost communication with her family after a phone call on July 28.
The family later discovered that she had officially withdrawn from her bachelor's degree studies in May.
In a post early Thursday morning (Sep 4), the father revealed that they have sought assistance from both the Hong Kong police and the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom.
"Our only wish is to know that our daughter is safe", the father wrote.
In response to Sing Tao Headline, the sister publication of The Standard, the father said Lam participated in the "Navigation Scheme for Young Persons in Care Services" and subsequently joined the workforce as a caregiver.
He added that his daughter was eager to pursue nursing studies, and originally planned to complete a six-month foundation course and then begin her bachelor's degree program in September of this year.
Described as cheerful and kind, Lam is the only child in the family. She has previously mentioned experiencing emotional difficulties. The father recounted that Lam was last seen meeting with an educational consultant in Hong Kong on April 16.
According to immigration records, Lam had returned to Hong Kong on May 13 before departing for Frankfurt, Germany, on July 25 -- a trip her family was unaware of.
During their last conversation on July 28, Lam had shared plans to return to Hong Kong for a summer break in August.
The family has been unable to establish contact with their daughter since the phone call and has recently discovered, with some surprise, that she officially withdrew from her bachelor's degree program in May.
Concerned, the father contacted the owner of the hostel where Lam was staying, who confirmed that she had not been seen for a long time, though some of her belongings remained in the room.
The father revealed that Lam had a history of depression and had been receiving treatment in Hong Kong.
Given her struggles to adapt to life abroad, her family is now pleading for anyone with relevant information to come forward.
