- Attack happens as 64-year-old is attending the opening of a building materials wholesale store in southern Guangdong province
- ‘Let’s get to the hospital,’ actor heard telling associate
Hong Kong actor Simon Yam Tat-wah was stabbed on Saturday morning while attending a promotional event in southern China.
The 64-year-old was a guest at the opening of a new Beijing Easyhome store in the city of Zhongshan, Guangdong province, when the attack happened.
According to his manager, the actor was stabbed in the stomach and suffered slash wounds to his arm.
In video footage posted on Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, Yam is seen speaking to the hosts of the event and handing out gifts to various guests as they are called to the stage.
But as he holds out his hand to greet a man dressed in a dark vest and jeans, the attacker pulls out a knife and lunges at him, stabbing and slashing repeatedly at the actor.
The attack continues for several seconds as security guards and bystanders rush to intervene. After a scuffle, the man is subdued and led away.
The footage shows Yam is clearly distressed by the attack and can be seen holding his hands to his stomach.
In a separate clip, also posted on social media, the actor can be heard saying to an associate: "Let's get to the hospital, to the hospital."
Yam's manager, Lester Mo Gee-man, told the South China Morning Post that his client's condition was not critical but his injuries were still being assessed.
"He was stabbed in his stomach and slashed on his arm, but was conscious the entire time," he said. "A preliminary investigation showed his injuries were not critical but the doctors are still deciding whether to operate on him in Zhongshan or whether we can wait until we return (to Hong Kong).
"I understand the management of Easyhome is panicking and waiting to hear back from Zhongshan public security for an update," he said.
According to a statement by the city's police department, Yam was stabbed by a man at 10.17am while attending a promotional event in Zhongshan's Huoju district. A suspect was detained at the scene.
Beijing Easyhome wholesales home furnishings and building materials.
More to follow …
Copyright (c) 2019. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.