【明報專訊】ON MARCH 8, a murder happened in Pitt Street, Yau Ma Tei. A man, subsequently identified as a Canadian of Vietnamese descent, allegedly stole a can of potato chips and a packet of paper handkerchiefs in a convenience store and refused to pay for them. Paul Cheng Ka-pui, who owned the store, argued with him, demanding that he pay. The man dashed off. He then allegedly stole a fruit knife from a supermarket, returned to the convenience store and got into an argument with Cheng again. Cheng was stabbed in the chest in the affray. Having remained in hospital for seven days, he died of the serious wounds. The mode of operation of a convenience store franchise is such that Cheng, though he owned his store, had to handle everything on his own and work long hours to make meagre profits. Cheng, who was 38, was murdered because of his work. All who learned what had happened to him lamented his fate. Media investigations have revealed that he was married and became a father only late last year. He left a wife and a child. That is a heartrending story.