Hong Kong national security police officer admits destroying notes of talks with alleged 2019 bomb plot mastermind

National Security Department officer Lau Wai-hung also denies coercing alleged plot leader Wong Chun-keung into making statements

Lau tells High Court he had several meetings with Wong and destroyed notes after each interview

3-MIN READ3-MIN

A High Court trial hears a national security department police officer destroyed notes of meetings with alleged bomb plot leader. Photo: Warton Li

Published: 8:49pm, 25 Apr 2024Updated: 8:55pm, 25 Apr 2024

A Hong Kong national security officer involved in the investigation of an alleged bomb plot to target police and the public at the height of the 2019 anti-government protests admitted destroying notes taken at meetings with the suspected mastermind, but denied doing it to hide evidence.

Lau Wai-hung, a detective constable in the force’s National Security Department, on Thursday also denied police had forced Wong Chun-keung, the alleged ringleader of the plot, into giving statements and divulging phone passwords.

He was speaking as he was questioned by lawyers for seven defendants who face High Court conspiracy charges under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance in connection with an alleged plan to plant two bombs in Wan Chai on December 8, 2019.

Prosecutors this week told the court that Wong, who earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit plant bombs near the police force’s headquarters and close to a petrol station on Hennessy Road, was behind the plot and would testify against alleged former group members.

A flashback to an anti-government march from Causeway Bay to Admirality during the 2019 protests. Photo: Sam Tsang

Lau testified that he had had seven meetings with Wong while he was in police custody between May and September 2023 and admitted he had destroyed his notes after each meeting.