Mother of Hong Kong murder victim at centre of extradition bill case renews call for Carrie Lam to send suspect to Taiwan for trial

The mother of a murder victim whose case sparked widespread protests in Hong Kong against an extradition bill has renewed calls for the city’s outgoing leader to send the suspected killer to Taiwan for trial before she leaves office next month.

But lawmaker Reverend Canon Peter Koon Ho-ming, an Anglican priest who has been assisting suspect Chan Tong-kai, pointed to the coronavirus pandemic for the 2½-year deadlock over the case, saying governments on both sides might be “unmotivated” to explore a breakthrough.

In an open message to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Thursday, Amber Poon Hiu-wing’s mother appealed to Lam to seek justice for her daughter, who was 19 and pregnant when she was allegedly killed in Taipei by boyfriend Chan in February 2018.

“This is the fifth year that my daughter did not celebrate Mother’s Day with me and my family. I am deeply grieved when looking at the past,” Poon told Lam.

“As you are leaving your post soon, I hope you can do one good thing – resolve the case involving cold-blooded Chan Tong-kai as soon as possible by sending him to the place where the incident happened for trial,” she said. “At least all Hongkongers and history will remember that you have the heart to solve problems before you leave office.”

Chan is wanted on the self-ruled island for murder. Aged 20 at the time, he returned to Hong Kong after Poon’s death and was jailed for money-laundering offences.

He begged for public forgiveness upon his release from his 29-month imprisonment in October 2019, but could not be sent back to face murder charges because of the lack of an extradition deal between the two jurisdictions.