HK Officers Head To Taiwan To Discuss Murder Case

Secretary for Security John Lee said on Wednesday that police have sent officers to meet their Taiwanese counterparts over the murder in Taiwan of a Hong Kong woman whose boyfriend has been arrested here.

Legal experts have warned that the lack of an extradition treaty between Hong Kong and Taiwan will make things difficult for the police on both sides.

Lee said the officers have gone to the island to find ways to take the murder probe forward.

Police found the body of 20-year-old Poon Hiu-wing near a metro station in New Taipei last week after her family had reported her missing.

She and her boyfriend had gone to Taipei on February 8 and they checked into a hotel there five days later. The man then returned to Hong Kong by himself on February 17.

The 19-year-old man was arrested last Tuesday, and is charged with withdrawing cash from the murder victim's bank account at an ATM in Diamond Hill. He was remanded into custody following an appearance at Kwun Tong Court.

Earlier in the week, Taiwanese police got in touch with the Hong Kong police through the Taiwanese Ministry of Justice.

Its Department of International and Cross-Strait Legal Affairs is seeking evidence related to the murder, such as statements obtained from the suspect by Hong Kong police.