Cook jailed seven years for 1983 rape of 13-year-old

Wallis Wang

A 60-year-old cook was jailed for seven years by the High Court yesterday for raping a 13-year-old girl 40 years ago, who later suffered from trauma and depression which led her to jump to her death at the age of 29 in 1999.

Wong Chun-chuen yesterday admitted to raping the girl at the now-demolished public housing San Fat Estate in Tuen Mun on January 20, 1983. A robbery charge against him for snatching HK$100 from the girl was left on the court file.

In sentencing, High Court Recorder Derek Chan Ching-lung said the crime had significantly traumatized the girl as she suffered from depression and eventually committed suicide, adding she remained single and could not work due to constant hospitalization.

Although the reason for her suicide was unknown, she could not live a normal life because of Wong's crime, Chan said. He said that Wong broke into the house, which was supposed to be a safe place.

But Chan said Wong, who was last convicted in 2000 for assault with intent to rob, had turned over a new leaf after being released from prison in 2002 and sentenced to seven years in jail.

The court has heard that Wong followed the girl, a secondary one student in 1983 when she returned to her sister's home. As the girl opened the door, Wong pushed her inside and raped her, threatening that he carried a knife.

The girl later sought help from a nearby police station, crying and telling police officers her private part was bleeding and in pain.

Officers seized trousers and underpants stained with Wong's semen as well as blood-stained tissue. They also found Wong's palm print but could not find him at the time.

The girl had been suffering from trauma and depression after the incident and dropped out of school. She was admitted to Castle Peak Hospital - a psychiatric hospital - many times before she committed suicide on April 7, 1999.

Speaking outside the court after the sentencing yesterday, senior inspector Yeung Man-tik from Tuen Mun police district crime unit said the police force was unable to identify Wong 40 years ago due to the limitations of technology, but officers never gave up.

"Due to the limits of technology, although the police obtained the suspect's palm print at that time, we could not identify him until 2008 when the police force upgraded its system," Yeung said.

"After years of hunting and investigation, Wong was finally arrested in August 2021 by patrolling officers," he said, adding Wong had never left Hong Kong since July 2008 and was taken into custody near his Tsuen Wan home.

Yeung said police officers acted quickly and prepared documents and evidence of the case following Wong's arrest. "We contacted witnesses of the case, including retired police officers and forensic experts, to make sure we submit sufficient evidence to the court," he said.

"No matter how old a case is, the police will never give up until bringing criminals to justice. The police force will also continue to improve its investigation methods."