A Hong Kong murder suspect whose case is seen as responsible for igniting the worst social unrest in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory in decades, was released from prison Wednesday.
Chan Tong-kai, 20, wanted in Taiwan for the murder of his girlfriend Poon Hiu-wing but who is now a free man in Hong Kong after serving time for related money laundering, said he is willing to surrender to Taiwan authorities to pay for his crime.
"First, I would like to apologize to the family of Hiu-wing," Chan told reporters outside the Pik Uk prison. "I understand that I have done irreversible wrongdoing and brought grave pain to them. I have been condemning myself."
"I am willing to turn myself in for my impulsive acts, my wrongdoing, and return to Taiwan to face trial and sentence. Hopefully, her family can find some relief while Hiu-wing can rest in peace," he said.
(Chan Tong-kai)
Chan is accused of killing his then 20-year-old girlfriend and fellow Hong Kong resident, while traveling in Taiwan in February 2018.
The Hong Kong government's inability to send him to Taiwan to face prosecution due to a lack of extradition arrangements was one of two factors cited by the government when it proposed this year a bill that would enable just such an extradition.
The legislation, however, backfired on the government by igniting mass protests over concerns that Chinese authorities might use it to crack down on pro-democracy activists and critics of the Communist Party-led Beijing government, as it would also enable extraditions to mainland China.
Even though the bill was suspended, the protests continued and turned increasingly violent, with demands among anti-government protesters having grown to include democratic reform in the former British colony.
Chan, on Wednesday, also sought forgiveness from Hong Kong people and a second chance to pay back society.
The Rev. Peter Koon, who helped convince Chan to surrender, said they had planned to go to Taiwan earlier in the day but now he needs to reconsider the timing because Taiwan has changed its stance.
"Chan is willing to turn himself in. I hope Taiwan authorities will stop scaring him," Koon said, referring to reports of the possibility that the suspect may face the death penalty if convicted.
Koon said Chan deserves a fair trial.
The priest also feared Chan was being entangled in a political dispute between Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Taiwan has refused Chan's surrender by making a trip there on his own, insisting instead he be turned over through a proper judicial assistance channel in recognition of the self-ruled island's sovereignty.
And on Wednesday, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen threatened to arrest Chan upon arrival without considering his move a surrender.
Hong Kong, for its part, has rejected Taiwan's offer to send officers to Hong Kong to help remove Chan, on the grounds that it cannot allow any foreign officer to enforce law in Hong Kong.
"If (Chan) becomes a political chip, as a reverend I will not feel content seeing him off," Koon said.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Secretary for Security John Lee repeated the Hong Kong government's position that it has no authority to detain Chan now that he has finished his prison sentence.
Taiwan authorities have sought Chan's extradition since he returned to Hong Kong last year.
While the extradition did not happen, Chan was sentenced by a Hong Kong court, in April, to 29 months in prison for money laundering in connection with the funds he stole from his girlfriend's bank account.
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