British university teacher working in Hong Kong dies on Chinese mainland

Updated

A British university teacher who worked in Hong Kong has died on the Chinese mainland.

Hilary St John Bower, 60, vanished on March 22 after he travelled from the city to Shenzhen, where he lived with his girlfriend and son.

A spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Polytechnic University said: "It is with deep regret that The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received confirmation from the Hong Kong Police this morning of the passing away on the Chinese mainland of Mr Hilary Bower, language instructor of the English Language Centre.

"The University will render all necessary support and assistance to Mr Bower's family, and offer counselling to colleagues and students in need. Mr Bower joined PolyU in 1996 and was due to retire later this year."

There has been speculation that the teacher's death may be linked to a recent property deal.

Mr Bower's colleague Richard Charles told the South China Morning Post: "I do know that after buying at the bottom of the property market a good few years ago, he was expecting to be paid somewhere in the region of HK$9 million (£816,156) for a property he just sold in Shekou."

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