Hong Kong Democrat Albert Ho changes tune over cross-border law enforcement claim
Lawmaker now accepts that mainland officers did not exercise duties in Hong Kong after bookseller Lam Wing-kee returned to Hong Kong
The lawmaker who has been helping bookseller Lam Wing-kee has toned down his rhetoric and says he is satisfied that no illegal “cross-border law enforcement” took place in Lam’s case.
Democratic Party member Albert Ho Chun-yan also said on Monday that he regarded it as a “good sign” because mainland officers still had scruples when they were in Hong Kong. The Basic Law guarantees a separate law enforcement system from the mainland.
Controversy over “cross-border law enforcement” by mainland officers in Hong Kong brewed after Lam claimed he was escorted by two mainland officers back to Hong Kong last week, was under surveillance by mainland authorities and was required to report his dealings to the mainland side using a smartphone given to him.
“This time, I would not say that Lam being escorted [to Hong Kong] would amount to cross-border law enforcement. Saying so, I do not think the claims made would tally with the information so far made available,” Ho told RTHK.
“The two men did not cross the border to Hong Kong with Lam at the same time. They only told Lam that they would come with him.
“While in Hong Kong, Lam did not seem to be subject to any threat or surveillance, although he believed they might be somewhere nearby and could find him at any time.