Cheung Tze-keung

Cheung Tze-keung (April 7, 1955 – December 5, 1998) was a notorious Hong Kong gangster also known as "Big Spender".

He was a kidnapper, robber, arms smuggler and was wanted for murder.

He was best known for having masterminded the abduction of Walter Kwok and Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, son of Li Ka-shing.

On 22 February 1990, he raided Kai Tak Airport where he hauled a HK$30 million consignment of Rolex wristwatches.

On 12 July 1991, Cheung returned to Kai Tak, where he robbed a security van, netting HK$167 million, Cheung was arrested in September 1991 and jailed for 18 years for the security van heist.

The charges, which were denied by Cheung, included the abduction in 1993 for a four million yuan ransom of a Fujian merchant who had only come forward after Cheung's arrest.

However, he was acquitted and released after appeal in June 1995 when the judge ruled there was no case against Cheung as the evidence was filled with too many inconsistencies and the security guard who initially identified him recanted his testimony.

His associate Yip, however, was sentenced to 41 years in jail.

"I take unconventional steps to get rich. Money is the most important thing in life but it's only me who can pull off kidnapping tycoons."

On 23 May 1996, he kidnapped Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, son of Li Ka-shing, and on 29 September 1997, he kidnapped Walter Kwok, chairman of Sun Hung Kai Properties.

He reportedly reaped HK$1.038 billion in ransom money from Li Ka-shing, and HK$600 million for Walter Kwok.

Cheung admitted he followed Li Ka-shing, then held him hostage in the Li's own house for three days until the ransom was paid.

It was believed at the time that these ransoms would merit an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Cheung allegedly acquired 960 kg of explosives in 1997 for $200,000 from a man in Macau, the stock was transported to Hong Kong and buried in a deserted container parking area.

The trial of a Hong Kong resident in Mainland China engendered a crisis of faith in the judicial independence of Hong Kong, explicit in the Hong Kong Basic Law that had been implemented after the United Kingdom transferred sovereignty to the People's Republic of China in 1997.

He was sentenced to death by a court in Guangzhou and was executed by firing squad on December 5, 1998.

Cheung was born in Yulin, Guangxi province, and moved to Hong Kong with his family at the age of four.

He acquired the nickname "Big Spender" for his love of lavish living.

Cheung created a self-image for himself of a "likeable rogue with a heart of gold," and gave his friends and strangers gifts funded from a crime spree that brought in at least HK$2 billion.

He was said to be a charming man with a taste for fine food and liquor.

He reportedly gave away tens of thousands of dollars to a young street painter when in Bangkok.

Just before he was arrested, he spent a month in a luxury hotel in Shenzhen during which he showered hotel staff with tips.

Even in jail, he reportedly asked wardens for bird's nest soup.

"I haven't the patience to work for a living. In this world, money is the most important thing."

Cheung partnered with Yip Kai-foon in a series of armed robberies.

Cheung fled to China in January 1998 after failing to kidnap Chief Secretary for Administration Anson Chan, in retaliation for the jailing of his associate, Yip Kai-foon.

Acting on a tip-off, the police discovered 818 kg of explosives in Sheung Shui, a part of Hong Kong, in January 1998 which they attributed to a plan by Cheung to bomb government buildings.

Cheung had already fled to Guangdong province in January 1998 under an assumed name, having bribed the police there.

He was arrested in August 1998, and his gang of 35 were rounded up by mainland police.

Among his gang members were 17 Hong Kong residents and 14 mainlanders.

It was reported at the time of his capture that Cheung planned to kidnap Macau gambling magnate, Stanley Ho.

Cheung is known to have lost at least $200 million in Ho's Macau casinos, once losing over $25 million in just one session at the casino.

Cheung and his gang were tried in connection with a number of crimes including the kidnapping of two Hong Kong tycoons, who remained unnamed in the trial (some reports suggested one victim was Victor Li).

The trial was held in Guangzhou even though the events occurred in Hong Kong.

Cheung's lawyer, and other constitutional experts, lobbied the government for the trial to be transferred to Hong Kong, but they were rejected.

The Guangzhou Municipal People's Prosecutor formally charged Cheung and his 35 followers with a series of charges relating to "cross-boundary crime including illegal possession, transporting and smuggling explosives and firearms, robbery and kidnapping".

The trial began on 8 October 1998.

It was reported that Cheung made a full confession on the first day of the trial.

On 12 November 1998, Cheung was convicted and sentenced to death.

He was executed by shooting on 5 December 1998 in Guangzhou.