Man 'pushed wheelchair-bound father into harbour'

A man arrested for murder after his elderly father was strapped into a wheelchair then pushed into Hong Kong’s harbour has claimed he did it as an act of mercy, it was reported today.

The body of Yam Kong, 84, was found floating in the harbour on Thursday, with plastic cuffs and pieces of silk ribbon and clothing tying him to the wheelchair.

Police arrested the man’s 46-year-old son on Friday, and the Standard newspaper today quoted chief marine inspector Chris Richards as saying the suspect called it a mercy killing to “end his father’s misery”.

The father suffered a stroke some time ago and had been wheelchair-bound in a home for the elderly, according to news accounts.

The son, who has been identified only by the surname Yam, was still in prison today although he had not yet been charged, police said.

News reports said the victim’s wife was in shock after she learned of his death.