Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam dismisses calls for public consultation on fugitive transfers, citing urgency of Taiwan case
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Hong Kong’s leader has shrugged off calls for a public consultation on the reciprocal transfer of fugitives with mainland China, Taiwan and Macau, stressing it was not the right time to stir up a fuss over matters that had to be urgently handled.
Plan to send fugitives to mainland China ‘not cause for human rights concerns’
“If we continue to squabble among ourselves and take our time to conduct a public consultation, I’m afraid we will not be able to help this family,” Lam said on Tuesday before her weekly cabinet meeting.
She was referring to opposition from activists and the pro-democracy camp, who raised fears over China’s human rights record and fair trials for dissidents.
If we continue to squabble among ourselves and take our time to conduct a public consultation, I’m afraid we will not be able to help this family
The issue came under scrutiny in February last year when a young Hong Kong woman named Poon Hiu-wing disappeared in Taiwan with her boyfriend Chan Tong-kai. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chan may have killed her but are unable to secure his extradition and prosecute him.
