Chow 'deception' slammed after police offer of leniency

Police treated pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow Ting with leniency, but were eventually deceived by Chow skipping bail, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said.

His comments came after national security officers allowed Chow, former founding member of the now-disbanded Demosisto, to leave Hong Kong to pursue a master's degree in Toronto, Canada.

Chow was allowed to get her passport back after a one-day "education tour" with national security officers. She was released on bail after her arrest on charges of colluding with foreign forces under the national security law.

But Lee sidestepped questions about Chow's Shenzhen education tour as well as the confession letter she was asked to pen.

"I do not want to comment on the details of the case but after arresting any suspect, whether relevant information will be used as evidence or not should be decided by law enforcement departments," he said.

He also slammed Chow for betraying her integrity and finding excuses to escape legal responsibility, as he said that it is a "shame" for her to try to gain sympathy through deception.

"The police offered leniency but in the end they were deceived. I believe this has disappointed those who chose to offer leniency, but the police will learn from their experience."

Lee also said the government will make every effort to track down anyone suspected of endangering national security, adding: "Absconded fugitives will be chased for their entire life unless they turn themselves in."

He also said some Hongkongers are still underestimating the threat posed by foreign forces to national security.

"Criminals colluding with foreign forces have already become their agents. Hongkongers should not underestimate those foreign elements, as they have never stopped intervening in Hong Kong affairs for their own benefits," Lee said.

"Although the wound of the 2019 'black-clad violence' has already healed, we cannot forget the serious pain caused by the violence, the pain that made us lose sleep," he added, referring to the anti-fugitive protests that rocked the SAR.

He said Article 23 of the Basic Law will be enacted next year to form a solid legal system to safeguard national security together with the national security law, imposed on Hong Kong by China in 2021.

After attending the Legislative Council's security panel meeting yesterday, secretary for security Chris Tang Ping-keung also refused to comment on Chow's "education tour." Instead, he slammed Chow for "betraying her integrity."

"Chow's behavior might affect other arrested suspects who are showing genuine remorse and are earnestly trying to turn over a new leaf," he warned.

Former secretary for security Lai Tung-kwok, who is currently a New People's Party lawmaker, denied that police were "careless" when they allowed Chow to jump bail.

"This is not the first time people have jumped bail. People should not think that it must be a mistake by police when someone jumps bail," Lai said.

But he refused to comment on whether Chow's saga will affect the chance of other suspects involved in similar cases getting bail, as the police have to consider each case individually.

"As the case has already involved legal procedures, I do not think the police can make [details public]. Even if doubts and accusations are raised in public, police have to act in accordance with the law."