Victim's Mum Vows To Plead For Chan Tong-kai's Life

The mother of a Hong Kong girl who was murdered in Taipei has called on the suspect, Chan Tong-kai, to hand himself over to the Taiwanese authorities, saying if he does so then she will plead for the court not to sentence him to death.

Poon Hiu-wing's mother told a Commercial Radio programme on Tuesday that she felt sad that her daughter's case was what triggered last year's mass social unrest, and she also felt heartbroken, guilty, and helpless that she still hasn't been able to get justice for her daughter.

She said it was impossible for her to let the matter go because Chan has still not handed himself over to Taiwanese authorities. She said her whole family has been left feeling broken after the incident, and that she could not forgive Chan at the moment.

During the interview, she said she would honour her earlier promise to buy plane tickets for Chan's surrender to Taiwan.

She also said she was willing to intercede for him in court, but only on the condition that he truly repents, and boards the flight to Taiwan to face trial for what he has done. She said she would accept the decision of a trial judge whatever it is.

But Poon also questioned Chan's sincerity when he said he would hand himself over, saying that it would have been better if he filmed himself instead of sent a voice recording.

The mother also recounted the events after her daughter's death, saying that after her daughter's body was returned to Hong Kong, a friend introduced her to a political party for assistance.

Poon said she wrote to the Chief Executive and other officials for help and thought Hong Kong and Taiwan would provide mutual legal assistance in her case and was not asking for any amendments.

She said she didn't understand the law and was besides herself at the time, and believed that those who helped arrange a press conference for her were truly trying to help her.

Poon said she hasn't met the Chief Executive to this day.

When asked if she felt she used as a pawn in the whole matter, she replied that she doesn't know and that she doesn't understand politics.

Poon's comments come after Chan sent a voice message to Poon's family saying he would hand himself over to the Taiwanese authorities. An audio recording of the voice message was released to the media on Friday.

In the short recording, Chan apologised to the parents of his girlfriend, who he confessed to murdering in 2018 while he was under police caution, and that he would ask his lawyer to make arrangements so he could turn himself in to Taiwanese authorities.

She said she has also written to Reverend Peter Koon, who she hasn't met, and hoped that he would help persuade Chan to hand himself over to Taiwan.