Police will investigate anyone who helps an offender flee, Hong Kong warns amid reports city is looking at prosecuting Danish politicians who aided wanted ex-lawmaker Ted Hui
- Government is reportedly examining the possibility of extraditing Danish politicians Uffe Elbæk and Katarina Ammitzbøll
- Security Bureau says anyone suspected of having committed a crime in organising, planning or aiding an abscondence faces investigation
Police will investigate anyone, regardless of nationality, who helps an offender to abscond from Hong Kong, the government has warned, after it was reported the city was looking into prosecuting two Danish politicians who aided former opposition lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung as he fled to Europe.
The incident, which has already provoked a strong response from Beijing, could trigger a diplomatic row between Denmark and China.
The Security Bureau in Hong Kong did not confirm the report, saying only that Hui, who had been prosecuted for various criminal offences, had openly jumped court bail and absconded.
An offender who fabricated false reasons and lied to the court in an attempt to abscond added to the severity of his crime, the bureau added.
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“In light of the circumstances of each case, the police will track down the whereabouts of the fugitive offenders through various means in accordance with the law and pursue them,” the bureau told the Post.
“Wherever any person, regardless of his nationality, is suspected of having committed a crime in organising, planning or aiding the abscondence, or in such criminal conspiracy, the police will actively investigate and pursue their legal liabilities under the existing legal framework.”
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Those meetings, however, were later revealed to have been a cover concocted by a Danish politician to help him secure court approval to leave the city while awaiting trial. After spending five days in the country, Hui announced his self-exile bid and flew to London.
He said he intended to resettle his family in Britain before making longer-term plans and made it clear he would not seek asylum anywhere.
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Beijing last month accused Danish politicians of harbouring criminals and meddling in China’s domestic affairs by supporting Hui.
“We oppose having any individual in any country interfering in Hong Kong’s matters and China’s domestic affairs in any way, and harbouring criminals,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
Hui faces nine charges including one count of being involved in an act intended to pervert the course of justice, as well as two counts of obtaining access to a computer with dishonest intent, and criminal damage over a protest in Tuen Mun.
He is also accused of two offences under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance – contempt and interference with the legislature’s officers – in relation to a tumultuous House Committee meeting on May 8 last year.