FOUNDATIONS of an elaborate plan for the safe deportation of corrupt lawyer Warwick Reid were laid at a secret meeting of top officials yesterday.
Perceived threats to the life of the jailed former acting director of public prosecutions are being taken seriously at the highest levels of the Security Branch and Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), sources revealed.
Secretary for Security Alistair Asprey called an hour-long meeting yesterday of about a dozen ICAC, police, Immigration Department, Security Branch and Correctional Services chiefs to hammer out arrangements for Reid's release.
Several security options geared to guarantee that Reid is seen safely on to a plane and out of Hong Kong for good were considered.
'Once he is out of Hong Kong's jurisdiction he will no longer be our responsibility and will become somebody else's problem,' a senior source said.
'But until then, we are bound to make sure he stays out of harm's way and that means ensuring his safety from his cell to the aircraft.' The involvement of Mr Asprey and other top officials in the meeting, including Police Senior Assistant Commissioner Toby Emmet, Immigration Assistant Director Christopher Lee Ka-keung and Correctional Services Deputy Commissioner Raymond Lai Ming-kee, has underlined the degree of concern over Reid's safety.
