German consulate distances itself from refugee protection row over Hong Kong fugitives Ray Wong and Alan Li, pledging ties with city will not change

German Federal Foreign Office is not part of decision-making process, says official statement released on Tuesday

Beijing and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam earlier expressed strong opposition to Berlin’s decision, saying it undermined city’s international reputation

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Ray Wong (left) and Alan Li both fled Hong Kong from charges related to the Mong Kok riot in 2016. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:31pm, 28 May 2019Updated: 4:57pm, 30 May 2019

The German consulate in Hong Kong on Tuesday sought to distance itself from Berlin’s decision to grant refugee protection status to two fugitives wanted on rioting charges, pledging ties with the city would not change.

Beijing and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor had earlier expressed strong opposition to the news that Berlin last year granted refugee protection status to pro-independence activists Ray Wong Toi-yeung, 25 and Alan Li Tung-shing, 27, who both fled from charges related to the Mong Kok riot in 2016.

The German consulate said it had taken note of Lam’s concern, but sought to steer clear of the decision to grant such a status to the duo.

“The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is in charge of the procedure for granting refugee status and takes decisions independently,” the statement read. “The BAMF considers the motivation stated by every asylum seeker during the asylum proceedings in a case-by-case examination in accordance with the rule of law.

German consul general Dieter Lamlé. Photo: Sam Tsang

“The German Federal Foreign Office is not part of the decision-making process.”

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