/ 13 January 2005

Hong Kong man hands out cash on the street

Hong Kong police are searching for a man who handed out HK$1 000 (R753) notes to passers-by on a busy street, a spokesperson said Thursday.

The man, soberly dressed and in his forties, is known to have handed out at least HK$7 000 in the city’s crowded Mongkok district, but officers believe he gave over more.

“We were alerted by members of the public who came forward and handed in the money — seven of them spoke to us but we believe the man gave money to many more people,” the police spokesperson said.

The money is not counterfeit and is not believed to have come from the proceeds of crime, the officer said.

“We just want to make sure he did not hand out the money under duress or while impaired by drink or drugs,” the spokesperson said. — AFP