Paul Lam urges staff with ‘useful information concerning the source of the allegations and the subsequent dissemination’ to come forward
Hong Kong’s secretary for justice has raised concerns that online accusations against the new public prosecutions director may have been based on information that came from inside his department, urging staff to come forward about the source of the allegations.
The internal letter from Paul Lam Ting-kwok surfaced on Wednesday after US-based Hong Kong fugitive activist Frances Hui Wing-ting posted it on social media, four days after she cited “insiders among prosecutors” in accusing newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Chau Tin-hang.
Chau, who took office on May 21, and Senior Public Prosecutor Crystal Chan Wing-sum – both of whom have handled national security cases – were accused of abusing their positions for personal gain.
In the letter, dated Tuesday and addressed to all Department of Justice staff, Lam said: “I am most alarmed that those allegations were allegedly based on information provided by ‘insiders’,” Lam wrote. “I have to say that I will be very upset and disappointed if this was true.”
Lam urged any staff with “useful information concerning the source of the allegations and the subsequent dissemination” to come forward and contact the departmental secretary.
He also instructed staff not to republish messages containing allegations against Chau and to reiterate the department’s stance if approached.
Source: News - South China Morning Post
