Security Bureau says no plan to reboot extradition bill as Taiwan election nears

The SAR government has no plans to reboot the controversial extradition bill, the Security Bureau said, ahead of Taiwan’s coming election next January. 

Murder suspect Tony Chan Tong-kai, who triggered the last term of government to push forward the proposed bill that led to the large and sometimes violent unrest in 2019, is still in a police safehouse four years after he was released. 

Lawmaker and Reverend Peter Koon Ho-ming who has been assisting with Chan’s case said Chan’s intent to go to Taiwan and turn himself in has never changed. 

Koon said earlier he expects there will be new progress after the 2024 Taiwan election in January, adding that Chan has been waiting all this time. 

Replying to Sing Tao Daily, the Security Bureau said on Friday night that the SAR government has no plans to reboot the legislation of the extradition bill. 

A spokesperson for the bureau said the government’s hope of Chan returning to Taiwan to bear his legal consequences has never changed and Chan also expressed his wish to do so. 

The spokesperson added that it’s up to Taiwan on granting Chan entry to the self-ruled island, saying this is the most direct solution.