Abby Choi trial day 20: estate agent gives evidence on Kadoorie Hill flat commission and rebate

The jury trial in the Abby Choi case (HCCC 198/2025) reached its 20th day on 21 October 2026. The court heard three witnesses: an estate agent, a resident living above a village house flat in Lung Mei Tsuen, and a staff member of a watch and jewellery company. The estate agent continued to give evidence about the 2019 sale price of a Kadoorie Hill flat, the commission paid by the developer and the arrangement under which his agency paid a rebate to defendant Kwong Kau. Oliver Davies, counsel for Kwong Kau, then cross-examined him on his memory and on a meeting on 28 June 2019.

Estate agent testifies that his agency paid a rebate of about HK$6.97 million to defendant Kwong Kau

The estate agent handled the purchase of a Kadoorie Hill flat in 2019 and continued to testify on day 20. He told the court again that throughout the transaction he dealt only with defendant Kwong Kau and did not know Abby Choi at the time.

Examination by the prosecution

The estate agent testified that the flat was finally sold for HK$60.606 million.

He testified that the developer paid his agency a commission of about HK$8.18 million, equal to 13.5 per cent of the price. He said the agency then paid about HK$6.97 million of this to defendant Kwong Kau as a rebate, and kept about HK$1.209 million as its income after the rebate.

On the arrangement, the estate agent testified that handling the commission as a rebate was proposed by defendant Kwong Kau. He also confirmed that defendant Kwong Kau received the rebate of about HK$6.97 million.

Cross-examination by the defence (Oliver Davies, counsel for defendant Kwong Kau)

Davies put to the witness that, in buying the flat, defendant Kwong Kau also had to pay about HK$3.09 million in stamp duty through a law firm. The witness agreed.

The defence then challenged whether the witness had a clear memory of events on 28 June 2019, which he disputed. The defence also put to him that the two men did not meet that day and that he had simply left documents to be signed and collected later; the witness likewise disagreed.

The witness said that he met defendant Kwong Kau that day at a restaurant near the Hung Hom ferry pier for about half an hour, to confirm and sign documents, and that Kwong Kau chose the location. Asked for further detail by the defence, the witness said defendant Kwong Kau was wearing a grey top and carrying a cross-body bag.

Resident testifies that windows of the flat below were covered with black material

Examination by the prosecution

The witness lives above a village house flat in Lung Mei Tsuen. He testified that between 15 and 18 February 2023 the windows of the flat below were covered and sealed with black material, so the interior could not be seen from outside.

He testified that on the afternoon of 21 February 2023 he saw two seven-seater vehicles parked side by side below. He testified that a few minutes later he heard heavy objects being moved, followed by noises resembling renovation work and thuds, and said he heard an electric saw. He testified that he did not hear anyone calling for help.

He testified that at about 4.30pm that day he ended a phone call with a friend early because of the noise. He also testified that at about 7pm he smelt a very pleasant aroma, which he described as like carrot and radish soup, and that it lingered for quite some time. He testified that at 8.37pm he phoned a cha chaan teng to order takeaway and, when he went downstairs to collect it, saw only one vehicle left.

Cross-examination by the defence (Oliver Davies, counsel for defendant Kwong Kau)

The defence played CCTV footage from near the flat and said that it contained the sound of a door closing and things being moved but no electric saw; the witness disagreed. The defence put to the witness that he had formed his present account after seeing news reports or other material; he denied this.

Watch company staff member testifies about HK$1.4 million in cash and a watch given to defendant Alex Kwong Kong-chi

Examination by the prosecution

The witness works for a watch and jewellery company and testified that he had been in contact with defendant Alex Kwong Kong-chi through WeChat since the end of June 2020. He testified that invoice records showed Abby Choi transferred HK$260,000 on 13 August 2020 in connection with an Audemars Piguet watch; he did not know who the payer was at the time, but defendant Alex Kwong Kong-chi said the person was his ex-wife.

The prosecution said Abby Choi made 31 transfers to the company totalling more than HK$26 million, and that the relevant invoices showed an amount of about HK$17 million. The witness explained that, because he had to hand a large volume of documents to police within a short time, the records he provided might not be complete.

The witness testified that between about 4pm and 5pm on 21 February 2023, defendant Alex Kwong Kong-chi phoned to ask how much money the company still held. He said the company was then holding HK$1.4 million on behalf of defendant Alex Kwong Kong-chi, together with a Patek Philippe watch that had not been collected, and that defendant Alex Kwong Kong-chi asked for them back. The witness testified that on 22 February 2023 he handed the HK$1.4 million in cash and the watch to defendant Alex Kwong Kong-chi; CCTV footage played by the prosecution showed the handover.

The witness also testified that on the evening of 23 February 2023 defendant Alex Kwong Kong-chi phoned again, sounding rather low, and asked him to delete their WeChat records, which he did. The witness testified that defendant Alex Kwong Kong-chi later asked him to help retrieve items kept at a Hong Kong hotel in Admiralty and send them to Guangzhou, and that in the end he sent only the watch box.

Background to the case

The case number is HCCC 198/2025. Defendants Anthony Kwong Kong-kit, Kwong Kau and Alex Kwong Kong-chi each face one count of murder, dated 21 February 2023, and one count of preventing the lawful burial of a body, for the period 21 to 23 February 2023.

All three defendants deny murder. Defendants Anthony Kwong Kong-kit and Alex Kwong Kong-chi have admitted preventing the lawful burial of a body, while defendant Kwong Kau denies that charge. The three defendants remain presumed innocent in law and the trial continues.

News reporting only. Not investment advice.