Keep politics out of Taiwan killing case
- Hongkonger Chan Tong-kai, suspected of murdering his girlfriend, must face justice after offering to turn himself in to island authorities
How difficult is it for a genuinely repentant fugitive to turn him or herself in? For murder suspect Chan Tong-kai, the man behind the extradition bill saga last year, it takes more than an awakening of the conscience to surrender himself to the Taiwan authorities after he admitted killing his pregnant girlfriend, Poon Hiu-wing, during a trip in 2018.
Cross-strait politics and the Covid-19 epidemic mean he is languishing in Hong Kong after serving out his jail term for a related money-laundering offence here last year, prolonging a bitter episode that is still resonating in the city and the region.
That Chan continues to make headlines for the wrong reason is regrettable. His offer to go to Taiwan for trial last year was first bogged down in a war of words between the authorities over the proper arrangements, and was further delayed by coronavirus outbreaks on the island and in Hong Kong.
A year has passed and he is still reportedly staying in a flat under police protection. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Poon’s mother openly challenged Chan’s sincerity in a recent interview. He later renewed his pledge to turn himself in, but this was only met with a barrage of criticism.
Chan could have averted this had he acted proactively. The outbreak in Taiwan appears to have long stabilised and the third wave to hit Hong Kong has been on the decline for some time. That raises questions as to why Chan has waited until now to contact lawyers on the island to prepare for his surrender.
The delay inevitably gives the impression that he is only acting under renewed pressure. This was not helped when recent remarks by authorities in Taiwan showed they were more concerned about politics and procedures rather than the issues in question.
There has never been any doubt over the need to bring Chan to justice. This is not just about seeking closure for Poon’s family and friends, but also the community as a whole. The city has suffered badly since a government attempt to pass a bill seeking to ease the transfer of Chan, and other fugitives to places without extradition treaties with Hong Kong, snowballed into the worst governance crisis since the handover.
Chan’s commitment to shoulder responsibility is a right step forward. It must not become another political tussle that prevents this dark chapter from being brought to an end.
