Six States Installation of Minister murder

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Year5 November 1951[1]
Address359 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong[2]
Casualties3 dead, 3 injured[1]
Six States Installation of Minister murder
Year5 November 1951[1]
Address359 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong[2]
Casualties3 dead, 3 injured[1]

The "Six States Installation of Minister" murder case (Chinese: 六國大封相兇殺案) was a dramatic murder case that occurred in Hong Kong during the 1950s. The case was considered to be one of the most serious murder cases at the time, and was sensationalised by the media.

The name of this murder case was derived from a Cantonese opera "Six States Installation of Minister" (六國大封相), an opera set in the Seven Warring States period.[1] Just before the murder, the murderer told his sister-in-law that he is about to do a rendition of the opera, and start killing[1]

Despite the murder itself had been forgotten, the phrase "Six States Installation of Minister" (六國大封相) has, in the decades since, entered popular vocabulary in Hong Kong to describe a chaotic, fierce argument or conflict.[2][3]

Background

Exile to Hong Kong

When the People's Republic of China was formed in 1949, Nationalist military officer Chu Shing-choi (朱盛材) escaped China to Hong Kong to rendezvous with his brother, Zhu Xingcai (朱醒材). Zhu Xingcai was a merchant, and was in the United States at the time. As a result, Chu Shing-choi stayed at his brother's residence.[1]

During those times, it is common for flatowners in Hong Kong to sublet individual rooms to other people. So, Chu was, in fact, living with numerous other families:

  1. Zhu Xingcai, his wife Kwan Yuet-ngo (關月娥) and their son.
  2. The sister of Guan Yue-E, Guan Yue Mei (關月美), her husband Wang Ji Soeng (黃子驤), and their three children.
  3. The brother of Guan Yue-E, Guan Hong Sang (關鴻生), his wife Chan Chiu (陳肖).
  4. Maid Wong Mei (黃美)
  5. Widow Wu Sam Gu (吳三姑)
  6. The sister of Wang Zi Xiang, Wang Yi Man (黃綺文)

Tension

When Chu Shing-choi came to Hong Kong, he brought with him a small fortune that is sufficient for him to start a small business. However, Chu blew through his savings within a year, and began to borrow money from his sister-in-law. It was at this time that Chu's sister-in-law began to insult and belittle him. In addition, Chu's relation with the widow Wu San Gu, which was seen by Chu's sister-in-law as endearing, also drew fierce criticism, and this also caused Wu San Gu to leave the residence.

In actuality, Chu Shing-choi liked Wang Qi Wen, and he moved with her to Shek Kip Mei to escape from his sister-in-law's insult.

Preparations for murder

During one fierce argument, Chu threatened to eventually deliver a rendition of "Six States Installation of Minister", but this did not deter Guan Yue-E, and even drove her children and the maid to go against Chu. In the meantime, Chu bought a butcher's knife and some petrol in preparations for murder.

Murder

Arrest and trial

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI