Taiwan lukewarm on Hong Kong’s proposal of conditional talks over extradition of murder suspect
- Taipei says Hong Kong has disregarded its appeals for help in extraditing Chan Tong-kai, who is wanted on the self-ruled island for murdering his girlfriend
- The Security Bureau says there were no preconditions attached to the meeting
Taiwan has expressed reservations about conditional talks with Hong Kong’s government over extraditing a student wanted on the self-ruled island for murder, as it confirmed it had received a formal invitation to meet.
Chiu Chui-cheng, deputy minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, said on Thursday it had received an invitation, via a letter and a phone call, from Hong Kong officials to discuss the case.
“The relevant suspect has not been dealt with according to the law as the Hong Kong side has long disregarded our appeals,” Chiu said. “We have reservations over requests from the Hong Kong side for conditional talks.”
“Hong Kong is a jurisdiction with an independent judicial system; in fact, if there is no need to amend the laws, [the suspect] can be sent over immediately and we can provide the necessary help,” Chiu said.
Hongkonger Chan Tong-kai, 20, has been wanted in Taiwan since last year, when he was accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend in Taipei before fleeing to Hong Kong. Chan, who on Monday was jailed by the High Court for 29 months on related money-laundering charges, could be released as early as October.