A search and rescue mission is under way for a Hong Kong man who went missing on Monday afternoon, with his family saying they believed he had left home to go hiking near Tai Po.
Wong Ming-fong, 60, was last seen at Tai Wo Sports Centre, his family wrote in an online appeal posted on Tuesday.
“After he left his wife at around noon, his son tried to call his phone number at 2pm but no one answered, but the phone rang. At 4pm, the call went to voicemail,” said Daisy Wong, the man’s sister.
“He didn’t say anything before he left the house. His family and I don’t know anything about his plans for the day. It is likely that he has a lot of time on his hands since he’s retired. He goes hiking often.”
She said at the time that police’s New Territories North regional missing persons unit had not opened an investigation into the case.
The force on Tuesday afternoon urged anyone with knowledge of the man’s whereabouts to contact the unit at 3661 3127, send an email to [email protected] or visit their local police station.
The Hong Kong Guardians, a voluntary group dedicated to looking for missing hikers, has launched their own search.
The family said they believed the 60-year-old had gone hiking near Shuen Wan’s Pat Sin Leng area in the New Territories after leaving the sports centre.
They added that he had expressed an interest in exploring the place and studied a map of the area the day before he went missing.
The family also said Wong Ming-fong had an old mobile phone with poor battery life, noting they had been unable to use the device’s GPS to locate him.
The appeal include a physical description of Wong, noting he has a moderate build, is 165cm tall and weighs 150lbs.
He was last seen wearing a white shirt and shoes, black trousers and carrying a green shoulder bag.
