Hilary Bower, a British national and Hong Kong resident, remains missing since disappearing in Shenzhen on March 22. However, both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen police have been unhelpful, a colleague has said.
Bower, who teaches at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), crossed the Lo Wu border at 5:10pm on the day of his disappearance. The 60-year-old lives in Shenzhen with his girlfriend and 6-year-old son. Bower called his girlfriend at around 9pm on the same day, but has not been seen or heard from since.
His disappearance was reported to the Hong Kong Police Force on March 28 by his colleague Richard Charles, but attempts to report the case across the border were denied by the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau.
In a press release published last week, Charles claimed that later attempts to follow up with the Missing Persons Unit in Hong Kong were also met with indifference.
“The Hong Kong Police Force confirmed Mr. Bower’s border crossing but when I called the Missing Persons Unit in Hong Kong [on April 7], I was told point blank ‘We have not passed anything on to the [Shenzhen Public Security Bureau] as your friend is an adult and it’s not important.’ ”
Speaking to HKFP, Charles stated that, although both police forces had not been cooperative, PolyU had made active efforts to contact the authorities in Shenzhen with regards to Bower’s case. He also reaffirmed fears that Bower’s disappearance might be related to a sizeable sum of money he was due soon from property sales.
“I understand the sum was close to nine million yuan – HK$10 million,” Charles said.
Bower’s ex-wife has since reported the case to the British consulate in Guangzhou, who in turn reported the case to the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau requesting action.
