Nearly three months after an urn holding the cremated remains of late Cantopop icon Anita Mui vanished from a Lantau Island columbarium, her family and fans have issued a public appeal for information on what would have been her 63rd birthday.
The disappearance of the urn from Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island remained undisclosed to the public for months. Mui, who died of cervical cancer in 2003 at the age of 40, had her remains enshrined at the monastery’s Hoi Wui Pagoda, located on the Ngong Ping plateau near the site of the Tian Tan Buddha, or Big Buddha.
Discovery at Po Lin Monastery and the Three-Month Investigation
The missing urn was first discovered on July 18 by fans visiting the columbarium to pay their respects. The visitors immediately notified the singer’s family, who filed a report with Hong Kong law enforcement.
Authorities classified the case as a request for police assistance, referring the matter to the Lantau District Regional Crime Unit for follow-up. Sources indicate that no ransom demands have been received, and no other urns at the columbarium were reported stolen. Nearly three months after the initial report, police confirmed that no arrests have been made.
Family Appeal and Brother’s Reward Offer
Frustrated by a lack of developments in the probe, the family and the Anita Mui International Fan Club released a joint public appeal on Oct 10, coinciding with what would have been Mui’s 63rd birthday. Poon Siu-man, a close companion of Mui’s late mother, explained during an early-morning livestream that the decision to go public was intended to draw broader media and public attention to the search after an annual gathering of devoted admirers.
The disappearance compounds a difficult period for the family, coming shortly after Mui’s mother passed away in August at the age of 102. Mui’s elder brother, Peter Mui Kai Ming, stated that he was unaware the ashes were missing until contacted by the media. Describing himself as shocked and furious, Kai Ming refuted public speculation that he might have taken the urn himself.
What would I steal it for?!
Peter Mui Kai Ming
Kai Ming has since offered a HK$50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of his sister’s ashes. He was originally planning to host a memorial event for their mother on October 10, but shifted the gathering to focus on his sister after learning about the missing urn, appearing in tears while condemning the act.
Public Reaction and Appeal for Dashcam Footage
Fan groups and entertainment figures expressed profound shock over the incident. Mui’s apprentice, singer-actor Patrick Tam Yiu-man, posted on Threads to voice his disbelief, stating that he hoped police would recover the urn soon and questioning why there was such negligence.
Another prominent fan club, Mui Nation, issued a statement condemning the disappearance.
The incident is extremely absurd, against any moral standards and is a shock to those who love and respect Ms Mui Yim-fong.
Mui Nation
Relatives and supporters are asking anyone who visited Po Lin Monastery between early January and July 18—particularly those who noticed suspicious individuals carrying an object resembling an urn—to contact authorities. Motorists who drove near the area during that timeframe are urged to check their dashcam footage for potential clues.
