HK cemetery founder's ashes stolen in ransom scheme targeting wealthy families

The ashes of Po Fook Hill Cemetery founder Fung Shing have been stolen along with those of other prominent figures in a ransom scheme demanding US$1 million per urn, according to revelations by activist Mary Jean Reimer (Yung Jing Jing) reported by The Standard's sister publication Sing Tao Daily.

Reimer, widow of late martial arts director Lau Kar-leung and a prominent YouTuber and activist lawyer, disclosed on Monday that besides her husband - whose case was first exposed by Sing Tao Daily - the cemetery founder's remains have also been taken from the Sha Tin columbarium.

She said the thieves, communicating through intermediaries, have repeatedly contacted her demanding US$1 million ransom for each set of ashes. The perpetrators claimed to have spent a year preparing and HK$500,000 on operational costs.

Reimer described the thieves as having possible mainland Chinese or Cambodian connections, speaking with what sounded like Fujian or Hunan accents. They suggested she sue the cemetery for compensation and share the proceeds, threatening otherwise to flush the ashes down toilets.

She defiantly stated she "won't pay a single cent" to the ransom demands, instead planning to sell the 15 columbarium niches and distribute the proceeds to elderly in need. Reimer expressed concerns about potential insider involvement, noting the sophisticated operation required to remove heavy stone tablets from higher-level niches and restore them undetected.

The case has drawn significant attention since initial reports about Lau Kar-leung's stolen ashes emerged, with Reimer suspecting the thieves targeted families they believed were wealthy.