China - Ani Ashekian, 31, Hong Kong, 11 Nov 2008 - Canadian tourist

[Trackergd]

My suitcase went back and forth with me in the car provided by the sponsoring company. I never trust the hotels, even the Swissotel (which I consider the best) have hookers knocking on your door at 10:00 pm. I avoid getting woken up by putting the do not disturb sign on the know and my keycard in the slot that turns the do not disturb light on outside the room. I have a clear understanding that anything that I leave in my room is gone through carefully, everything I say is in meetings is evaluated and my actions are watched. I went to the forbidden gardens for the tour, some folks in the crowd wanted to have their picture taken with me, but plain cloths men moved in and drove the people away. Happened again when I was at the Jade Buddha Temple, so I know they watch. All companies are 51% owned by the Chinese government so at least one person in daily meetings works for the government. I have no illusion of privacy.

 

[MysteryMaven]

My suitcase went back and forth with me in the car provided by the sponsoring company. I never trust the hotels, even the Swissotel (which I consider the best) have hookers knocking on your door at 10:00 pm. I avoid getting woken up by putting the do not disturb sign on the know and my keycard in the slot that turns the do not disturb light on outside the room. I have a clear understanding that anything that I leave in my room is gone through carefully, everything I say is in meetings is evaluated and my actions are watched. I went to the forbidden gardens for the tour, some folks in the crowd wanted to have their picture taken with me, but plain cloths men moved in and drove the people away. Happened again when I was at the Jade Buddha Temple, so I know they watch. All companies are 51% owned by the Chinese government so at least one person in daily meetings works for the government. I have no illusion of privacy.

Very interesting....
Nice to have insight from someone who has been to the area.

 

[Meesh87]

Any updates on Ani?

 

[MysteryMaven]

Any updates on Ani?

No updates that I can find.

 

[SBops]

Very interesting....
Nice to have insight from someone who has been to the area.

I have lived in HK and it is nothing like that. Mainland China may have been, but I have three friends who have been living in China for years and they do not find it like that.
Having said that though, there is no way that I would ever stay in Chungking Mansions (what a misnomer) though, male or female. Just the sight of it is enough to stay away from. It is like a rabbit warren.

 

[MysteryMaven]

I have lived in HK and it is nothing like that. Mainland China may have been, but I have three friends who have been living in China for years and they do not find it like that.
Having said that though, there is no way that I would ever stay in Chungking Mansions (what a misnomer) though, male or female. Just the sight of it is enough to stay away from. It is like a rabbit warren.

I appreciate this insight!

 

[MysteryMaven]

Maybe she did run off and start a new life. Ani where are you?

 

[Trackergd]

Two potential scenario's. She became ill and was put into a hospital and expired. She committed a crime (even unwittingly) and was tossed into a mudhole prison and is still there or expired. In both cases the government does not feel obliged to inform the applicable Embassy. That's why it is important to let your Embassy know you are in country and for how long when you travel to a foreign country.

 

[tarabull]

What happened to solo traveler Ani Ashekian? : True Crime Diva

Canadian Ani Ashekian, 30, disappeared on Nov. 10, 2008, from Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, after withdrawing hundreds of dollars from an ATM.

truecrimediva.com

Episode 11: Ani Ashekian — Unknown Passage Podcast

CANADIAN MISSING IN HONG KONG SINCE 2018

www.unknownpassagepodcast.com

https://twitter.com/findaniashekian?lang=en

ETA: DBM disregard.

 

[Snoopster]

I forgot about this case, so thank you to those who have posted over the last few years.
Where is Ani?

 

[annpats]

I have stayed in a guesthouse in Chinking mansions myself when I was travelling around Asia. There are lots of guesthouses and hostel in the huge rabbit warren buildings and also offices for cheap visas and other things like that. The ground floor is like a huge cheap electronics shop. I did however notice that a lot of African men were always hanging about outside the main entrance and downstairs. They didn't bother me, but I found it unusual in Hong Kong.

I don't know what she was doing in Causeway Bay across the water, apart from using an ATM. It would've taken 2 metro rides totalling about 25 mins to get there....or 9 minutes in a taxi, which she probably didn't use and HK taxis are expensive. (Plus the ATM was in a metro station, so it follows she got there by metro.)

She could've easily been drugged/kidnapped and taken out in a large bag or box and no-one would've batted an eyelid. Lots of people are moving things in an out all the time, and there are many different elevators and stair wells.

Interestingly enough, there are many rural parts of Hong Kong, towards the north-east of the country.. green, forested and nearly mountainous, where you won't see a soul. She could've even been taken out there and put into the sea....horrid thought but sadly, it has to be said.

Photo of a rural area Hong Kong below and also a Google screenshot of the distance from Chung King Mansions building in Tsim Sha Tsui to Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island.

 

[Aurora90]

bumping for Ani

 

[Aurora90]

Wondering if AA had become newly interested in politics or religion before she left Canada, or perhaps met someone new?
imo, speculation.

I am curious too regarding any possible interest in politics or religion. And where the heck was she from October 30 - Nov. 11th?

It's probably nothing, but it appears that from her last known location there is a bus that takes you to Jardin's point. Which up until 2016 is where the Canadian Counsul General lived.

Canadian consulate sells luxury Hong Kong home, but not to fugitive Joseph Lau

Consulate spokesman insists sale was conducted in a fair and transparent manner and house went to the highest of several bidders

www.scmp.com

 

[Aurora90]

According to the article below, the family's hired private investigator, only discovered she spoke Portuguese 4 years after her disappearance.

Did the family not know she spoke Portuguese? That would be an important thing to mention no? And if they did not know why, that too is strange.

That being said, this article is the only place where this information is mentioned, as far as I can tell.

Ani Ashekian's journal offers new clues after four years of silence

Backpacker's state of mind, possible Macau lead and Argentina job offer turn the case on its head

www.scmp.com

Guy Shirra, a retired police officer who had investigated cases of missing persons, joined Ashekian's family in their hunt when the case began. Now he has persuaded them to hand over a journal she kept and uncovered evidence that may prove crucial to finding the traveller.

Shirra, 65, also found out she spoke Portuguese. He requested local police find out from Macau authorities whether they had any record of her arriving there, although Hong Kong had no travel records of her leaving.

Shirra passed the book to a police psychologist because he was concerned about her state of mind before her disappearance.

 

[dotr]

Wanted Persons with Reward Notices | Hong Kong Police Force

Hong Kong Police Force - Wanted Persons with Other Reward Noticess

www.police.gov.hk

''Public Appeals​

ANI ASHEKIAN
Missing Person:
Canadian / Female ANI ASHEKIAN

Description(at the time of missing):
30 years, 1.63 m, 119 lbs, normal build, white complexion, pointed chin, long curl brown hair, Tattoo on bikini line and front left hip.

Missing Since:
2008-11-10

Last seen wearing:
White shirt with a rucksack.

Remarks:
The above missing person visit Hong Kong as a tourist. The MP was last seen at Chung King Mansion, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong in the morning on 2008-11-10 and lost contact since then.

If anyone has any information about this missing person, please contact Regional Missing Persons Unit of Regional Missing Persons Unit of Hong Kong Island on Tel 36601040 or any Police Station or email to [email protected]​

Reference No:
HKI RN 08001236''

 

[dotr]

Sep 19 2025

HUNTER: What happened to Canadian who vanished in Cambodia?

Tiberius ‘Ti’ Baker, 34, a onetime Vancouver DJ and club owner, missed his flight back to Canada on Jan. 25

torontosun.com

''In November 2008, Toronto woman Ani Ashekian, 31, vanished in frenetic Hong Kong. A paralegal and frequent solo traveller, her disappearance remains a mystery. Ashekian had travelled to Beijing in October before arriving in Hong Kong.''

''And from there, the trail goes ice cold. Among the theories put forward is that she was desperate to start a new life and simply disappeared. Darker theories are that she was murdered or forced into sex trafficking.''

Somewhere at an airport in Canada, someone, most likely young, will be boarding a plane bound for the exotic climes of Southeast Asia. The excitement will be unimaginable.

But the real world is not a third-year social studies class or a multicultural festival in Windsor. It is just that, real. And it can be very dangerous.
Know that, and you may just come back from Asia alive. And maybe have a few good stories to boot.''