Searchers brave typhoon in hunt for missing schoolboy

Toby Ng

Police, firefighters and volunteers braved the typhoon yesterday to continue searching for 17-year-old Diocesan Boys' School student Matthew Tsang Hin-chit, who has been missing for five days.

The secondary 6 student went missing Wednesday during lunchtime. Despite continuous search efforts by police, firemen, school alumni and civilian search teams he has still not been found.

Police, along with the fire department and Civil Aid Service, continued the search yesterday morning.

About 50 people in the search team gathered at Fa Sam Hang in Sha Tin before splitting into different routes for the mountain search.

On Saturday, police provided an update on the investigation progress via social media, stating that Tsang was last seen Wednesday around 2.30pm, passing through Hang Shin Link in Siu Lek Yuen in Sha Tin toward Ma On Shan Country Park.

His whereabouts have remained a mystery since then.

The current search area is focused on the vicinity of Ma On Shan Country Park.

Tsang's mother updated social media last Friday night, saying her son last used his Octopus card at 1.27pm on Wednesday.

In addition to police and firefighters, civilian search teams have also been assisting in the search.

Anson Icarus, founder of The Hong Kong Guardians (The Volunteers), said six members, along with search dog Ona, searched for Tsang throughout the night on Friday in the vicinity of To Fung Shan in Sha Tin and Wu Kai Sha, as well as nearby restaurants that operate for 24 hours.

They concluded their search on Saturday morning. In the evening, they brought the search dog and joined the alumni association to search in Mui Tsz Lam in Sha Tin.

They conducted searches for several hours and deployed drones to observe from high altitudes for any sign of Tsang.

Tsang's family posted on social media said that Tsang left the school around noon on Wednesday and took the MTR from Mong Kok Station to Shek Mun Station. Since his Octopus card records at 1.27pm, no contact has since been made. His mother said that Tsang had been troubled by his health in recent days and on the day he went missing she had planned to take him to see a doctor.

"My son has been under a lot of pressure lately, experiencing mental distress. He took his wallet during lunchtime but didn't even bring his phone before leaving school. He is not an experienced hiker. He has never been to Shek Mun before," she said.

He was last seen wearing a short-sleeved white shirt, black long pants and possibly a black mask.

The family urged the public to immediately contact Mrs Tsang at 5191-3815 if they spot a schoolboy matching the description.

Police urge anyone who knows the whereabouts of Tsang or may have seen him to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Hong Kong Island at 2860-1040 or 9886-0034, contact any police station or e-mail: rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk.