SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Focus should be on justice not politics in Taiwan murder case

How the suspect – a Hongkonger – is returned to the self-ruled island should be straightforward; instead politics is rearing its ugly head

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Murder suspect Chan Tong-kai, with Reverend Canon Peter Koon Ho-ming, leaves the Pik Uk Prison. Photo: Sam Tsang

SCMP Editorial

Published: 9:30pm, 23 Oct 2019Updated: 11:07pm, 23 Oct 2019

The death of a young woman in Taiwan, while on a trip from Hong Kong with her boyfriend, has triggered extraordinary consequences. Poon Hiu-wing, 20, who was pregnant at the time, was allegedly murdered in Taipei by her boyfriend, Chan Tong-kai. He then returned to Hong Kong. A determination to send Chan back to Taiwan to face trial fuelled Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s ill-fated bid to enact new extradition laws earlier this year. The unpopular bill, which would also have allowed suspects to be transferred to mainland China and other parts of the world which do not have an extradition deal with Hong Kong, was finally withdrawn on Wednesday. But the attempt to pass it has sparked more than four months of civil unrest and violence in the city.

Now, in an unexpected but welcome development, Chan has revealed his intention to travel to Taiwan to give himself in. Released from jail in Hong Kong on Wednesday after serving a sentence for money-laundering, Chan confirmed he was willing to surrender to Taiwan authorities. He spoke of having made “the worst mistake” and expressed the hope that his surrender would provide some comfort for the victim’s family. Finally, it seems, justice will be done.

But the process has been clouded by the reaction of Taiwan. At first, it said it would not accept Chan, arguing there should be formal talks between the governments on mutual legal assistance or that Chan should be tried in Hong Kong. Officials suggested he would not be granted a visa to travel to the island. Then, Taiwan said it would accept him after all, but its own officials must go to Hong Kong to collect him. These suggestions are not necessary nor are they feasible.

Chan is a free man. There are no legal grounds for Hong Kong officials to detain him or to try him for a crime committed in Taiwan. There is no need for talks on legal assistance and no reason to allow Taiwanese officials to enter Hong Kong. Indeed, to let officials from outside Hong Kong into the city to effectively arrest a suspect would set a very dangerous precedent. Chan intends to return to Taiwan, where he can be arrested and put on trial. Hong Kong will, no doubt, offer what assistance it can. It should be a straightforward matter.

The case has arisen at a time when Taiwan is preparing for a presidential election, due in January. Opinion polls suggest President Tsai Ing-wen has benefited from the crisis in Hong Kong. Taiwan’s response to Chan’s offer to give himself up appears to be an attempt to secure further political capital. But the priority must be to ensure that justice is done. Political considerations should be put aside. There will, perhaps, be some comfort for the victim’s family if Chan returns to face trial. The case is shocking and it has caused a crisis in Hong Kong. At least, if justice is done, there can be a sense of closure.