Taiwan rebuts Hong Kong’s claims it is hindering surrender of murder suspect whose case sparked extradition bill crisis and mass protests

Taipei says key issues in the case are ‘the sense of responsibility of the Hong Kong government and the genuine willingness of the suspect’ to return

Hong Kong had earlier asked Taiwan to clear the hurdles for Chan Tong-kai’s surrender to authorities in Taipei

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Murder suspect Chan Tong-kai outside the Pik Uk Correctional Institution, Clear Water Bay, in Hong Kong on October 23. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 3:52pm, 26 Oct 2019Updated: 11:24pm, 26 Oct 2019

Taiwan has hit back against Hong Kong’s claims it was hindering the surrender of the murder suspect whose case sparked the extradition bill crisis, and urged the city’s government to take real action instead of bickering over the matter.

The rebuttal came on Saturday, hours after the Hong Kong government issued a statement demanding Taiwan clear the hurdles for Chan Tong-kai’s voluntary surrender to authorities on the self-ruled island to face justice for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend.

In response, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said it was not to blame for the impasse.

“The key issues in the case are the sense of responsibility of the Hong Kong government and the genuine willingness of the suspect [to return]. The Hong Kong government does not need to say so much, it just needs to take actions,” the council said in a statement.

Taiwan’s Premier Su Tseng-chang accused the Kuomintang of manipulating the surrender of Chan Tong-kai. Photo: Handout

Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang said Chan would be arrested “immediately” upon his arrival.