HK may prosecute Danish politicians who aided Ted Hui’s self-exile

The SAR government was examining the possibility of extraditing the Danish politicians allegedly helping former opposition lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung to flee from Hong Kong, Danish media reports.

The Security Bureau in Hong Kong did not confirm the report, but reiterated that the police will actively investigate anyone suspected of having committed a crime in organising, planning or aiding the absconded, or in such criminal conspiracy, and pursue their legal liabilities under the existing legal framework.

Authorities also strongly condemned fugitive offenders and would pursue them in accordance with the law.

Last November, Hui’s travelling documents were returned to him after Danish parliamentarians provided official documentations supporting his visit to Copenhagen for a climate change conference. 

Danish parliament members Uffe Elbæk and Katarina Ammitzbøll were said to have organized the meeting for the ex-lawmaker to attend. 

However, those meetings were later revealed to have been a cover concocted by a Danish politician to help him secure court approval to leave the city while awaiting trial as Hui announced he would be in exile and quit Democratic Party after spending five days in the country.

“Danish politicians can and shall naturally meet with whoever they want, without fear of reprisals. The government utterly defends that right,” Jeppe Kofod, Foreign minister of Denmark, told the Danish press.

Hui was suspected to have colluded with external forces to endanger national security and embezzling funds obtained through online crowdfunding, which the latter led to Hui’s bank accounts being frozen.

Under the national security law, a person who is not a permanent resident of Hong Kong committing offences against Hong Kong outside the city can also be prosecuted.

Currently, there is no extradition agreement between Hong Kong and Denmark.