Suspect in Taiwan homicide case released in Hong Kong, says to surrender to Taiwan

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, October 23, 2019
Adjust font size:

Chan Tong-kai, the suspect of a homicide case in China's Taiwan, was released Wednesday morning from a prison in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), saying he is willing to surrender to Taiwan.

Following Chan's release, the HKSAR government's Secretary for Security John Lee said that Chan has already indicated willingness to surrender after his case in Hong Kong has been concluded, and the HKSAR government will of course be offering what is possible under HKSAR legal system the information that is requested by the Taiwan authorities.

The Hong Kong authorities have been all the while in making efforts to assist the Taiwan authorities in their investigation. "But everything must be done in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong and under our legal framework," Lee stressed.

"One thing which is very important is that the accused person has already indicated his willingness to surrender, and it should be handled quickly without hindrance so that justice is done," Lee said, urging Taiwan "to see how they can accept the accused person surrender, giving the best facilitation, rather than laying all the hurdles and restrictions in regard to his surrender."

Earlier on Wednesday, the HKSAR government rejected Taiwan's offer to send officers to Hong Kong to escort Chan upon his prison discharge, saying it is "totally unacceptable" because such cross-jurisdiction law enforcement is a disrespect for Hong Kong's jurisdictional power.

The HKSAR government's Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng said Wednesday afternoon that Hong Kong and Taiwan do not at the moment have a legal framework that will allow a formal arrangement for Chan's surrender, so "this will be very much a matter that will have to be operated at the working level between the (Hong Kong) police and relevant authorities in Taiwan, insofar as the law permits, and insofar as it is doable."

"I am sure in Hong Kong we will do everything we can to ensure that justice is being done," she said.

Chan finished his prison term Wednesday sentenced by a HKSAR court in April 2019 for offenses of money laundering.

He told media outside the prison that he has done things wrong and irreparable, and has thus all along been in self-blame and self-condemnation.

He is hence willing to bear the consequences of the impulsive mistake by surrendering to Taiwan, standing trial and serving sentence, Chan said.

Chan, a Hong Kong resident, killed his pregnant girlfriend during their trip to Taiwan in February 2018 and was arrested by the police in Hong Kong in March 2018. The HKSAR government's Department of Justice, however, found that there was hardly sufficient evidence in Hong Kong to prosecute him for offenses other than money laundering.

The HKSAR government proposed earlier this year amendments to two HKSAR ordinances concerning fugitive offenders transfers and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters to deal with the case in Taiwan, which has no agreement on the surrender of fugitive offenders with Hong Kong.

The HKSAR government announced last week that HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam received a letter from Chan in which he expressed the decision to surrender and requested the HKSAR government to assist him in making relevant arrangement.

The HKSAR government has reiterated that it hopes Taiwan will receive the self-surrendered suspect and it will offer all necessary assistance within its legal limits.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:    
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter