Police launched an investigation after a man and a woman were hospitalised following a violent incident involving assault, arson and an apparent suicide attempt in Yuen Long on Saturday morning.

According to officers, emergency services were alerted at 9.43am after a 31-year-old woman reported that she had been attacked by her husband inside a flat on Fung Cheung Road.

She told officers that her husband also used a knife during the assault.

Senior inspector Chan Man-hei said the woman managed to escape from the lower-storey flat and call for help.

"Upon arrival, police arranged for the victim, who had sustained a hand injury, to be sent to Tuen Mun Hospital," she said.

"Later, officers also found the suspect lying on the pedestrian walkway outside the building, believed to have fallen from height.

"He was immediately rushed to Tuen Mun Hospital for emergency treatment. He is currently unconscious but in a stable condition."

Chan said thick smoke billowed from the unit and that the Fire Services Department extinguished the blaze.

"During the fire, around 30 residents heard the fire alarm and evacuated the building," she said.

"The fire was quickly contained, did not spread to any other units, and caused no further injuries."

Preliminary police investigations suggest the suspect, a 31-year-old man who runs a restaurant, had been arguing with the victim over business matters.

"During the argument, the suspect became emotionally agitated, took a fruit knife from the kitchen. The victim immediately tried to stop him, and during the struggle, the suspect cut her in the hand," Chan said.

"After she managed to take the knife away, the male suspect locked himself in the bedroom. While the victim was leaving the flat and calling police, the suspect used a lighter to set fire to the mattress and then fell from the unit."

The police said the motive for the incident had yet to be ascertained.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden