A Hong Kong man beaten nearly to death by racist thugs in Aberdeen has sent city residents a Chinese new year message: “I’ll be back to see you one day”.
It is more than 13 years since Terry Ho was left fighting for his life after the brutal early hour attack by two teenage footballers.
Now 41, he still bears the physical and mental scars of his ordeal, struggling with his mobility and having the mind of a 12-year-old.
But he says he will always remember the kindness and generosity of Granite City residents who rallied to support him and his family.
And he is keen to travel back to the north-east from his native Hong Kong to say thank you in person.
As the north-east prepares for its annual parades of oriental dragons and lanterns, Mr Ho sent a heartfelt message from his family’s home in the Far East.
“Kung Hei Fat Choi to everyone. May you all have a prosperous year of the Rooster,” he said.
“I will never forget how the Scottish people treated me, how they gave me love.
“I have wished for a long time that I could go back and say thank you to the people who looked after me, who cared for me.”
Mr Ho was speaking via a video link with Elton Chong – one Aberdeen resident with whom he remains in regular contact.
Mr Chong, who acted as spokesman and translator for the family in the wake of the ordeal, beamed as the pair chatted.
He said although the young man’s life was changed forever by the attack, which left him in a 15-day coma and needing months of intensive care, he seemed content.
One-time chef Mr Ho, who was out with two fellow Chinese restaurant workers when they were set upon, now works as a kitchen porter.
When he is not eating sushi at his favourite restaurant he likes to go fishing and show off the spoils.
“He is always sending me pictures of what he has caught and what he is eating,” Mr Chong said.
“I told him: if you keep on eating so much fish you are going to look more like a cat than a human.
“He is happy about his life at the moment. He has a job, he is working hard, he loves to go to the sushi restaurant.
“Life is not perfect. He doesn’t get to fish as often as he would like because he is working long hours.
“He will be at work for Chinese New Year too. But at least he has a job.”
Mr Ho, who lives with his father in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong, also shares pictures of himself with young additions to the extended family.
Missing from the photos sadly is his mother, who was taken very much to the heart of Aberdonians when she flew to be at her son’s bedside.
Yuk Ying Leung Ho was overwhelmed by the generosity of locals who raised huge sums to fly them home and meet medical costs.
Less than four years after returning to Hong Kong, she was hit by a truck and killed as she rode her bicycle home from a food market.
Mr Ho’s financial future was made more secure by the investment of an £80,000 compensation payment he received for his injuries from Scotland’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
Despite his experience however, Mr Ho signs off with an optimistic message to the people of the Granite City.
“One day I will come back. I will let you know when.”
