Police said they recovered all 30kg of gold granules, worth about HK$30 million, and arrested two men after a man reported the gold missing from his suitcase at a Kwun Tong hotel on 7 October.
The complainant told police he had stepped away to smoke for about two minutes. When he returned, he found eight fabric-softener bottles of comparable weight in place of the gold; his companion was missing.
Police said their investigation indicated that the companion had arranged for two other men to obtain the bottles and stay in a neighbouring hotel room. During the complainant’s absence, the companion allegedly let them into his room to make the swap.
Officers said they identified all three men within hours by reviewing CCTV footage. Around noon, they arrested one man in Tai Po and recovered the gold from a guesthouse room. A second man was arrested at the Lo Wu Control Point while trying to leave Hong Kong.
The arrested men, aged 27 and 41, were being detained for investigation. Police said the companion, whom they described as the alleged mastermind, had left Hong Kong about an hour before the theft was reported and remained sought.