Hong Kong police have arrested a man on Lamma Island who they suspect of murdering a taxi driver.

It comes after a taxi driver was stabbed in Sai Ying Pun at around 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

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The 48-year-old driver was certified dead upon arrival at hospital. A knife was seized from the scene.

taxi driver murderer on lamma island
Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP.

The suspect – described by the force as “very violent” – was apprehended on Wednesday evening following a city-wide manhunt.

lamma police post
Dozens of police officers with anti-riot gear at the Lamma police post. Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP.

He was arrested outside Man Loon store on the Lamma Island Family Walk before being marched through Yung Shue Wan Main Street onto a police boat.

Police escorted the apprehended suspect, in chains, towards the Lamma Island cargo pier.
Police escorted the apprehended suspect, in chains, towards the Lamma Island cargo pier. Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP.

The man was wearing a red t-shirt and had been cuffed and hooded by police.

riot police at lamma public pier
Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP.

Lamma residents cheered the dozen-odd officers, and jeered at the suspect, as they passed bars and restaurants.

“The suspect was believed to be an extremely dangerous person with suspected [violent] tendency,” a police statement said.

murder suspect
Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP.

Hong Kong Island Regional Crime Unit Chief Inspector Tse Tsz-kwan told reporters that the 31-year-old man was arrested at 8:36pm after police responded to the call.

“When the suspect was arrested, he did not possess any weapons, nor did he have any visible injuries, Tse said. “But a black garbage bag was found near him. In it was a black stab-resistant vest and a nine-centimetre-long folding knife,” he added, according to RTHK.

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Tom founded Hong Kong Free Press in 2015 as the city's first crowdfunded newspaper. He has a BA in Communications and New Media from Leeds University and an MA in Journalism from the University of Hong Kong. He previously founded an NGO advocating for domestic worker rights, and has contributed to the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Al-Jazeera and others.

Tom leads HKFP – raising funds, managing the team and navigating risk – whilst regularly speaking on press freedom, ethics and media funding at industry events, schools and conferences around the world.