Lee Po scandal threatens deal on fugitives between Hong Kong and Macau, casts shadow on legal system

Hopes for a deal on the surrender of fugitives between Hong Kong and Macau have been thrown into “serious doubt’’ because of the scandal surrounding the mystery disappearance of bookseller Lee Po and four associates.

Exactly a month since Lee was last seen in Hong Kong, concerns have also emerged that the lack of official transparency over the disappearances – and the question marks that places over the independence of the city’s legal system – could damage the SAR’s ability to secure the return of fugitives from overseas.

Sources with a knowledge of the protracted two-and-a-half -year talks between Hong Kong and Macau say already fraught negotiations have been “put in an even more difficult place’’ due to the bookseller disappearances, leaving the chances of an agreement anytime soon “extremely unlikely”.

“Differences between the Hong Kong and Macau legal systems and the unique constitutional status of the two SARs within China meant the negotiations were always going to be difficult. The Lee Po situation has made things even worse,’’ a source said.

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Lee disappeared at the end of December; four of his associates vanished in October. There is no official record of Lee leaving the city, triggering speculation he was abducted by mainland agents.