Taiwan has urged the Hong Kong authorities to further detain and investigate a soon-to-be-released murder suspect originally at the centre of the political crisis sparked by the government’s now-withdrawn extradition bill.
Chan Tong-kai, a Hong Kong student wanted in Taiwan for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, is expected to be released next Wednesday after spending 18 months in jail for money laundering.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor had held up his case as the primary justification for the bill, arguing that fugitives such as Chan were able to avoid justice because of a lack of extradition agreements with jurisdictions such as Taiwan. Opposition to the bill – which also sought to expand extradition to other jurisdictions, including the mainland – triggered months of unrest that is showing no signs of dying down.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice urged the authorities to pursue Chan’s alleged murder case.
“The offence of murder is the most heinous crime. Hong Kong prosecutors and police authorities should actively investigate to serve justice to the deceased and her families,” the department said in a statement on Thursday.
