Authorities still studying if Hong Kong collusion case needs to be handled by Beijing
Minister says Hong Kong and Beijing determining if Article 55 of national security law, which applies to complicated and severe cases, should be invoked
Beijing and Hong Kong are investigating the complexity of a suspected collusion case to determine whether mainland China needs to take over, the security minister has said, in what may become a precedent for the central government to exercise its jurisdiction over such matters.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Saturday that authorities were gathering information to ascertain whether Article 55 of the national security law, which applies to complicated and severe cases, should be invoked.
He stressed that no arrests had been made so far, adding that handing over the case would require the central government’s approval.
Tang made the remarks after the government announced a joint operation between local police and Beijing’s Office for Safeguarding National Security on Thursday night, with observers saying that it could be the first step in an investigation into an unusually complex collusion situation that could ultimately be handed over to mainland authorities.
“The office will need to ascertain whether there were any situations specified under Article 55 [of the national security law] … we need to understand and investigate whether these had happened,” Tang said during a radio programme.
Under the article, the office shall exercise jurisdiction over cases deemed complex due to the involvement of a foreign country or external elements, making it difficult for Hong Kong to proceed.