Suspect in Taiwan homicide case released in HK, says to surrender to Taiwan

Chan Tong-kai, the suspect of a homicide case in Taiwan, was released on Wednesday morning from a prison in Hong Kong, saying he is willing to surrender to Taiwan.

Chan Tong-kai walks out the Pik Uk Prison in Hong Kong on October 23, 2019, after serving a short jail sentence for stealing his girlfriend's possessions. [Photo: AFP/ Philip FONG]

Following Chan's release, Secretary for Security of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) 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."

Chan finished his prison term 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 the 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.