Anita Mui's urn disappears from Po Lin Monastery columbarium
The ashes of Cantopop star Anita Mui were found missing from her niche at Hong Kong's Po Lin Monastery, and police have made no arrests three months later.
During a visit on July 18, a fan noticed that the screws securing the door to Anita Mui's niche at Po Lin Monastery's columbarium had been loosened and the urn containing her ashes was missing. The fan promptly informed Mui's relatives, who reported the incident to police, but the inquiry has produced little leads and no arrests after nearly three months. On Oct 10, the family and the fan club issued a joint public plea for tips, emphasizing that no ransom has been demanded and that other urns in the area remain untouched.
In a livestream on Oct 11, Poon Siu-man, a close companion of Mui's mother, explained that the public appeal was intended to attract widespread attention and aid the investigation. The fan club Mui Nation denounced the act as "extremely absurd and contrary to ethics and morality," calling for a thorough police probe and urging the monastery to address security lapses. Authorities continue to seek information that could identify the perpetrators and recover the missing urn.
Why it matters
The theft of a beloved star's remains raises cultural and security concerns for Hong Kong's heritage sites.
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