When a family of five died tragically in a murder-suicide in 1999
'Three boys and their parents were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide yesterday,' reported the South China Morning Post on June 10, 1999. 'The bodies of Ng Jo-yin, 12, Ng Ho-yin, 10, and Ng Chung-yin, 8, were discovered on a bed with their father, Ng Chung-kit, 42, and mother, Lam Siu-ying, 39, in a Tin Shui Wai flat.
'The windows and doors of the flat were sealed and charcoal had been burned. Lam was lying to one side of the three boys, hemming them in against the wall, and Ng was lying across his wife and sons. A letter was left in the flat on the 18th floor of Shui Sum House on Tin Shui Estate. Firemen broke in after work colleagues called at the flat because Ng, a Regional Services Department cleaner, had been absent from work since Monday.
How the tragedy was reported in the South China Morning Post on June 10, 1999. Photo: SCMP Archives
Yuen Long District Board member Chow Wing-kan, who knew the family, said: 'Mr Ng has been working as a grade two cleaner at a Sheung Shui market since early this year. He had been unemployed since 1995 and found only temporary work from time to time. He came to me complaining about his livelihood and his children's education,' said Mr Chow, who saw the bodies in the flat. 'He and his family were very active and participated in district events and festivals. He had no bad habits that I know of besides occasional gambling.'
'Mr Chow said he saw the family 'acting normally' on Monday night, returning home after a meal out. The mother was found in pyjamas, the eldest son in school uniform and the other two both in T-shirts and pants. An incense burner was found in the room and all the windows were closed, with cloths and jeans used to seal the gaps.
''The room and flat were very tidy. The bodies were neatly dressed,' [Yuen Long district crime squad's Senior Inspector Poon Ka-yui] said.'
On June 11, the Post reported that 'Police were yesterday examining the bank and credit-card records of market cleaner Ng Chung-kit who died with his wife and three young sons in a murder-suicide on Wednesday. Officers were trying to estimate the size of Ng's debts, mentioned in a note left at the family flat where the five died, according to [Inspector Poon].
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