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Ella Lee

Stella Lee

Two Guangdong public security men monitor a suspect in a corruption case

Two Guangdong public security officers have been caught on duty in Hong Kong - outside their jurisdiction -  apparently after the person they were monitoring told police of their 'suspicious' behaviour.

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa last night expressed serious concern over news reports of the incident, saying that, if true, it was 'absolutely unacceptable'.

Earlier, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong  said   he was seeking clarification from mainland authorities.

Mr Lee stressed that no mainland law enforcement officers could exercise their jurisdiction in Hong Kong.

A security source  said the two mainlanders were Guangdong Public Security Bureau officers probing a  confidential corruption case.  Some of the fugitives  in the case have been arrested overseas.

Hong Kong police were alerted to their activities after receiving a report that some people were acting 'suspiciously' near 54 Mount Davis Road. The area is home to many  officials and staff of mainland-funded companies.

Security sources said the person being monitored by the mainland officers was believed to be the person who called the police.

Mainland officers are required to notify the Hong Kong police if they wish to  pursue crime cases in the territory, but sources said the force had not been informed.

A police spokeswoman yesterday confirmed that a report  was received  about  people acting suspiciously along Mount Davis Road about 8pm on Wednesday. Officers sent to the scene found the two Guangdong officers with five other mainland men inside two vehicles.

'All the seven men are two-way permit holders. Two  claimed to be public security officers. They were  taken back to Western police station to assist investigations,' she said.

The seven men  were released on bail. It is understood they have to report back to the police station. At least two men were seen returning to the scene after their release.

Police classified the case as 'suspicious person found' and did not count the taking of the  men to the police station  as an 'arrest'.

Mr Lee said there had been only a handful of cases  of mainland public security officers allegedly exercising their duties in Hong Kong.

'The Hong Kong government is very concerned about these incidents and so are the police,' he said.

James To Kun-sun, chairman of the Legco security panel,   said the incident, if true, was a very serious matter  and the  officers should be penalised accordingly.



Mainland officers caught on duty in HK