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Hong Kong bail-jumper Ted Hui lands in London in exile

蘋果日報 2020/12/06 06:54


Former Democratic Party lawmaker Ted Hui has arrived in London from Denmark, going into self-imposed exile with expectations that he might never be able to return to his home city of Hong Kong.
Hui was seen landing at Heathrow Airport on Friday night London time and being welcomed by a man. He later told Hong Kong broadcaster Now TV that he had arrived with a heavy heart, knowing full well that he would have to cut ties with everything he loved back home and might never step foot there again. His exile was intended not only for himself but also for Hong Kong, he added.
The former legislator declined to comment about the basis on which he used to enter the United Kingdom. He also brushed aside questions about the whereabouts of his family, and about criticism from the Hong Kong government that he had jumped bail, saying that he wanted to rest and did not wish to go into detail.
Hui faces nine criminal charges in Hong Kong. By the time the media woke up to the fact that he had left for Denmark, his family members were reported to have departed as well. At one point he did worry if his family could safely leave Hong Kong, but they had since arrived in London, Hui told Danish newspaper Berlingske.
Thomas Rohden, chair of the Danish China Critical Society — which organized Hui’s trip — told Citizen News that he first met Hui when the then lawmaker was visiting Denmark in February. He was initially unaware of any plans for self-exile, but in the past two to three weeks, Hui had seemed more eager to leave Hong Kong permanently, Rohden said.
Hui was scheduled to attend an environmental conference in Denmark, arranged by Danish lawmaker Uffe Elbaek. Elbaek said he had contacted local green groups in order that Hui could have an itinerary to submit to the Hong Kong police, and the groups were ready to meet Hui, but none of the Danish contacts knew he was not attending the event after all. Considering the risk Hui faced in Hong Kong, Elbaek said that he would do it all over again if necessary.
Other than his now-abandoned legislative role, Hui is also a Central and Western district councilor. He had yet to tender a resignation letter to the government, Secretary for Home Affairs Casper Tsui said. Under the law, if an elected district councilor failed to attend council meetings for four months without prior approval from the council, he would lose his seat, Tsui said.
The government would monitor the situation as many were concerned about Hui’s district council office receiving public funds without offering services to residents, the minister added.
On Saturday night, Hui confirmed to Apple Daily that no fewer than five financial accounts belonging to him, his wife and his parents were frozen on the same day, involving at least three banks including HSBC and Hang Seng. The third bank was the Bank of China and the accounts were held by the parents, according to a source.
Hui said the accounts contained millions of Hong Kong dollars, and the savings inside were all that he had. But he would not return to Hong Kong because of the money, he said.
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