Police investigating a suspected murder and attempted suicide case say they believe a man killed his two children in their Yau Ma Tei flat on Wednesday before trying to take his own life.

Assistant district commander of Yau Tsim district, Ching Chi-yan said all three were discovered lying in a bed inside a locked room at Kam Wah Building on Wednesday afternoon.

An eight-year-old boy and his three-year-old sister were rushed to hospital where they were declared dead. Neither had any obvious injuries.

Ching said the suspect, 40, had a 15-centimetre-long knife wound on his neck that officers believe was self-inflicted. He was taken to Queen Elizabeth hospital, where he was in a critical condition.

A 24cm long fruit knife and two box cutters were found at the scene – all stained with blood, he added. There were no signs of struggle.

Marks found on the children's faces and foreheads may suggest strangulation, Ching said, though the cause of death will be determined after post-mortem examinations.

Officers had received a call for help on Wednesday afternoon from a woman who said she was unable to get in touch with her husband and son, and the flat was locked.

Ching said the family had no known history of domestic violence, and officers believe the suspect had a good relationship with his family.

However, he said preliminary investigations suggest the suspect had been under a lot of pressure recently due to large investment losses, and police are continuing to look into a possible motive.

"This is a tragedy," Ching said. "No matter what problems one encounters, children should not be harmed, because they are innocent.

"People who have problems should talk with family members or seek professional help, from social workers, psychologists or medical personnel."
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Last updated: 2025-08-28 HKT 08:14