A 28-year-old man will appear in court today for the murder of his 23-year-old ex-girlfriend and yoga instructor Aqua Chow Wai-yin in a five-star hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.

After Chow failed to board her flight to the United States on Thursday, her family filed a missing person's report. Chow was found dead later that day at the Ritz-Carlton hotel with more than 30 stab wounds on her body.

Jobless Alex Lo Chun-ming was charged with murder on Saturday and will appear in Kowloon City magistrates' courts today.

Around 10 of Chow's relatives and friends visited the hotel yesterday for a commemoration ceremony. Chow's relatives were seen carrying candles and fruit offerings while passing through the hotel lobby.

After the missing person's report was filed, police contacted Lo but the latter initially claimed to have no knowledge of the incident.

However, upon examination of security camera footage, police discovered that Chow left her Sham Shui Po home with Lo on Wednesday afternoon - less than 12 hours before her flight.

The footage showed Lo arriving at Chow's residence at Seaside Sonata on Hai Tan Street at 4.34pm on Wednesday before leaving with her six minutes later.

On Thursday night, Lo surrendered himself to the police. It is understood that Lo declined to speak at the time but presented a hotel room key to officers.

After arriving at the hotel around 10pm, officers found Chow's body in the bathtub. Her body had been wrapped in a towel and immersed in water. The autopsy report revealed that Chow had sustained over 30 stab wounds, including two fatal wounds on her chest and throat. A 27-centimeter knife with a 22cm blade was also found in the bathtub.

Gar Kam-lam, assistant commander of Yau Tsim district, called the murder "outrageous."

It is understood that Chow and Lo struck up a romantic relationship last April but called it quits in November. In January, Chow reported to police that Lo had threatened to release intimate photos of her in order to force her into rekindling their relationship.

Sources said Chow only visited the hotel with Lo because the latter said he would return money to her. Rumors have also swirled online regarding Lo's history of abuse of other ex-girlfriends.

Lo had previously competed as a prizewinning martial arts athlete as part of Hong Kong's wushu team.

Alex Lo will appear in court for mention today.

Hearing begins for 'spurned ex' after yoga trainer found stabbed to death in TST hotel