Taiwan throwing up obstacles stopping murder suspect from surrendering, Hong Kong security chief says

Hong Kong’s security chief has slammed Taiwan for “making trouble out of nothing” with unreasonable demands that are hindering the surrender of Chan Tong-kai, who is wanted by Taipei authorities over the murder of his girlfriend.

John Lee Ka-chiu also said Chan’s transfer to the self-ruled island would be possible with a “working-level cooperation” channel between the police of the two jurisdictions. A mutual legal assistance deal, which Taiwan has requested, was unnecessary, the secretary for security said on Wednesday.

Poon Hiu-wing was killed while holidaying with Chan in Taipei in February 2018. Police suspected he was the murderer, but he returned to Hong Kong before he could be prosecuted. Authorities in the financial hub cannot charge him for a murder committed in Taiwan, and he cannot be returned there due to the lack of an extradition agreement between the two jurisdictions.

Taiwan has asked Hong Kong to provide evidence in Chan’s case and go through the formal “single-window” channel Taipei had set up.

“I hope the Taiwan authorities can drop their cannot-care-less attitude,” Lee said. “There is no reason to refuse to accept a wanted criminal suspect. It is making trouble out of nothing to set up various obstacles and preconditions.”

Lee pointed to a murder case in 2016, when Hong Kong suspects who fled to Taiwan were deported for overstaying their visas and handed over to officers from the financial hub at Taoyuan International Airport. They remained under Hong Kong police surveillance throughout their flight and were arrested upon landing.

“At that time, there was no mutual legal assistance deal with Taiwan,” Lee said. “And we did not ask Taiwan to offer evidence [in the case].”