TNAG-0679-FCO40-828-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 46

liu king-hon's

Death

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P.6

th course of their own investigation the students had found a vit ble reddish-brown handprint on the roof of the Hon Ming Building and about twenty feet from where it was surmised the deceased had fallen. This handprint, however, had not existed when Sen. Insp. Ho had first inspected the roof-top on the 29th July.

SUM TOTAL OF POSITIVE EVIDENCE

In what was a most comprehensive and accurate summing up to the jury, Coroner Leonard stressed that this case was notable for the almost complete paucity of positive evidence of any kind as to the exact cause of death. Indeed, the sole piece of direct evidence indicating that Liu Ping-hon had actually. fallen from a considerable height from the Hon Ming Building (this corroborating the inferential conclusion from the position of and damage to the body) was the evidence of one I am Chant, a resident of the Tung Chi Building.

of

Lam Chant had testified that early on the morning of the 26th July, at about 7.15-7.20 am, he had followed his normal practice of proceeding to the roof of the Tung Chi Building (10 storeys) with his two caged birds. Whilst doing his customary exercises he had glanced across to the Hon Ming Building opposite and saw a falling object cross his line vision. He first saw this falling object, which he believed to be a person in reddish clothing, when it was some 2-3 floors

above his own line of vision. He did not however investigate further, being frightened, and shortly afterwards heard an ambulance in the street below. He could not recall whether any sound emanated from the body during its descent.

Apart from this evidence from Lam Chant, which was in line with the pathologist's testimony that the deceased must have fallen from a height exceeding 5 storeys, there were no eyewitnesses whatsoever. The watchman of the Hon Ming Building, one Wong Lok, testified that he had seen or heard nothing.