Kidnapping Video: Carina Lau
As the investigation progressed, police discovered that the mastermind behind the kidnapping was Tong Wai, a 47-year-old man with a history of petty crimes. Tong had allegedly orchestrated the kidnapping in a bid to extort money from Lau's family. He had reportedly demanded a ransom of HK$10 million (approximately US$1.3 million) from Lau's family.
The 1990 abduction was a real, traumatic crime.
The publication triggered immediate and widespread condemnation across Hong Kong society:
In 2018, Lau publicly stated she had "forgiven everyone," including her kidnappers and the magazine editors, viewing the trauma as a catalyst for her personal growth.
: In later years, Lau publicly stated she has forgiven both her kidnappers and the magazine. She credited the ordeal for making her "stronger than I imagined". carina lau kidnapping video
The real story involves a harrowing 1990 abduction by criminal triads, a controversial 2002 tabloid cover featuring forced photographs, and a landmark moment in Hong Kong history that forever changed media ethics and privacy laws. đź•’ The 1990 Abduction: What Really Happened
: The tabloid East Week published the private, non-consensual photos taken during her 1990 kidnapping.
This article delves into the harrowing events of 1990, the subsequent publication of topless photos, and how Lau bravely overcame a traumatic ordeal that, at one point, threatened to destroy her career. The 1990 Abduction: A Two-Hour Ordeal
In the years since, Lau has publicly expressed an extraordinary perspective. She has repeatedly stated that she does not harbor hatred for the four men who abducted her. “They did not assault me. They were only following orders,” she said. “In my heart, I am grateful to them.” Her husband, actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, has shared that Lau struggled with suicidal thoughts after the incident, but her willingness to publicly forgive serves as a powerful testament to her resilience. As the investigation progressed, police discovered that the
In November 2002, hundreds of Hong Kong entertainers, directors, and citizens—led by prominent figures like Tony Leung, Jackie Chan, and Anita Mui—staged a massive street protest condemning the magazine's predatory tactics.
In a retrospective interview in 2018, Lau stated that she had completely forgiven everyone involved in the incident, including her kidnappers, noting that the ordeal ultimately helped her grow stronger and less fearful of life's challenges. If you want to explore more about this topic,
In March 2025, renowned filmmaker Wong Jing claimed that the 1990 kidnapping might have been a case of mistaken identity, according to The Star . Wong suggested the original target was Elizabeth Lee, the first runner-up in the 1987 Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant. Regardless of the intended target, the event remains a deeply traumatic chapter in Hong Kong's entertainment history. Date: April 25, 1990. Victim: Carina Lau. Type of Content: Photos, not a video, published in 2002.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Hong Kong entertainment industry experienced a Golden Age, but it was also deeply infiltrated by organized crime syndicates (Triads). Triad bosses heavily invested in film production to launder money and generate massive profits, often coercing top-tier actors into projects through intimidation. The 1990 abduction was a real, traumatic crime
claimed in March 2025 that the kidnapping might have been a case of mistaken identity
However, Lau’s representatives and sources have consistently debunked this video. In her autobiography, Lau stated the footage was —a crude hoax exploiting her public trauma. Investigators concluded the circulating video was a composite of unrelated footage, and that there was never any verifiable film of the actual abduction or the events surrounding it.
Read about the shocking Carina Lau kidnapping video, which captured the brazen crime that shook Hong Kong in 2010. Learn about the investigation, rescue, and trial, as well as the impact on Lau's life and career.
The initial trauma might have faded into memory if not for the events of 2002. At the time, the influential Hong Kong magazine East Week came into possession of one of the nude photographs taken during her 1990 kidnapping. The then-editor of the magazine, Mong Hon-ming, made the disastrous decision to publish the image on the magazine's cover.
The Carina Lau Abduction & The Media Crisis: Truth Behind the Search Terms