11:54
Mother of murder victim Poon Hiu-wing pleads with Hong Kong, Taiwan for swift transfer of suspect
Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3107416/taiwans-stance-hong-kong-murder-suspect-defies-international-logic Letters
Taiwan’s stance on Hong Kong murder suspect defies international logic
- Murder is a serious criminal offence worldwide. Why would any jurisdiction disallow a wanted suspect from returning to face trial?
The mother of Poon Hiu-wing reads out a letter to Secretary for Security John Lee outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on October 20, as she continues her campaign to seek justice over her pregnant daughter’s 2018 murder. Photo: AFP
I am writing to comment on the baffling stance taken by the Taiwanese authorities on Chan Tong-kai’s voluntary surrender. Chan is a murder suspect wanted by Taiwan, but the Taiwanese administration is playing politics with the surrender arrangement.
If the Taiwanese authorities are working in good faith to deliver justice for Poon Hiu-wing, the victim murdered in 2018, it is entirely incomprehensible why they are adding unnecessary obstacles to Chan’s entry to the self-governed island.
The Taiwanese authorities have repeatedly insisted that the Hong Kong government must liaise with them on mutual legal assistance, despite the fact that there is no legal framework for doing so after the withdrawal of the government’s extradition proposal. Murder is a serious criminal offence worldwide, and Chan is a wanted suspect who has evaded criminal proceedings for nearly two years. Why would a jurisdiction disallow a wanted suspect, who allegedly committed such a grave crime, from returning to be tried for the case?
I find it hard to understand why the Taiwanese authorities have not allowed Chan’s travel permit application and have repeatedly ruled out possible steps for him to return to Taiwan.
For instance, if Edward Snowden was to return, even without a passport, to the United States where he is seen as a fugitive, he would absolutely be arrested by federal law enforcement agents as soon as he stepped on US soil. Whereas the Taiwanese authorities are, in fact, delaying and denying Chan’s attempt at voluntary surrender. How constructive could that be in serving justice for Poon?
Justice delayed is justice denied. Sympathetic as I am towards Mrs Poon, the victim’s mother, I must emphasise that there seems to be nothing more the Hong Kong police, government or Chan can do without Taiwan’s cooperation. The Taiwanese authorities’ political ploy is salt rubbed into the wound, and it is time for them to return to pragmatism and sincerity so that Chan can be tried as soon as possible.
Anfield Tam, Quarry Bay