$2.3b scroll cut and sold for $500

A Mao Zedong calligraphy scroll owned by renowned mainland collector Fu Chunxiao that has been claimed to be worth HK$2.3 billion was cut in two pieces because the burglars found it "too long," police said. And then it was bought for HK$500.

The Mao scroll was among HK$5-billion-worth of collectibles, including seven calligraphy scrolls, 10 copper coins and 24,327 stamps that were stolen from Fu's 10th-floor flat in Nathan Apartments in Yau Ma Tei on September 10.

The Mao scroll was found in a Wan Chai flat of one of three arrested suspects, a 49-year-old man named Lam who bought it along with two copper coins on September 22 following his arrest that day.

Superintendent Ho Chun-tung of the organized crime and triad bureau said the burglars found it difficult to display the 2.8-meter scroll to buyers and therefore cut it into two pieces.

Lam has been released on bail pending investigation.

The other two suspects are Ng, 44, and Tam, 47. They were arrested for burglary and assisting an offender by providing a hideout in a Yau Ma Tei apartment that Tam owned. They were still detained last night.

Ho said the three men were arrested following information from a taxi driver who drove the burglars at around midnight on September 10.

"We made an appeal, and a taxi driver came forward and gave us very good information," Ho said. But at least two of three burglars who broke into Fu's flat remained on the run. And eight coins, six calligraphy scrolls and 24,327 stamps remain missing.

Ho said: "Anyone who happens to see the collectibles [should] contact the organized crime and triad bureau on 2828-7561 or 6074-4206."

Fu, who is currently resting in the mainland, said he had wanted to donate the calligraphy piece before the burglary happened..

And he did not know when he would be able to get the scroll back.

Fu was heartbroken to learn the calligraphy scroll had been cut, his secretary said yesterday.

She said that the scroll came with the signatures and stamps of prominent politicians, such as military chief Zhu De and political director Chen Yi in the 1960s.

She also said the scroll's HK$2.3 billion price tag was a Hong Kong police estimation.

A police source said that the Mao scroll was sold for HK$500 to Lam, who thought it was a counterfeit since it was in two parts.

The Sichuan-born Fu is vice president of the China Cultural Relic Conservation Association and a member of the Hong Kong Philatelic Society.

He has also edited magazines including Guangzhou Philately and China Philately.

Described as a fanatic of Mao's calligraphy, Fu organized an exhibition of Mao stamps in Hong Kong in 2018, which included 200 rarities from his own collection.