Murder Victim's Mother In Go-between Offer

The mother of murder victim Poon Hiu-wing has called on the authorities in Taiwan and Hong Kong to contact her on Friday, so that she can act as the go-between to confirm a date for a meeting to discuss the surrender of the suspect in the case, Chan Tong-kai.

Her appeal came a day before the anniversary of Chan's release from prison on a money laundering charge after taking Poon's money and valuables a year ago. He has been under police protection since and has indicated he will turn himself in to Taiwan.

But Chan has so far been unable to obtain a visa to go to Taiwan, with the Mainland Affairs Council insisting that the SAR government needs to discuss with them before he can go to the island.

Hong Kong officials have said Chan is a free man and the law doesn't allow the government to offer legal assistance to Taiwan.

In 2018, Chan travelled to Taiwan with his girlfriend, Poon Hiu-wing. Her body was found in a suitcase in New Taipei, while he returned to Hong Kong.

Chan can't be charged in Hong Kong over the murder, but was jailed for money laundering after taking Poon's possessions.

Officials say under the law, they can't extradite Chan to any other "part of China", with the murder cited by Chief Executive Carrie Lam as a reason for pushing her ill-fated extradition bill, a move which sparked Hong Kong's worst social unrest in decades.