From the CFHK…
Last weekend, #HongKong was rocked by the kind of scandal the city’s once-free tabloid press — namely the now-defunct Apple Daily — would’ve aggressively exposed: the misuse of public funds by one of Hong Kong’s top public prosecutors.
From Washington, D.C., our policy and advocacy manager @frances_hui publicly lodged serious allegations against Hong Kong’s newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Chau, a lead prosecutor in the Hong Kong 47 and #FreeJimmyLai national security cases.
Drawing on insider information, Hui alleged that Chau misused public funds to book luxury hotel stays with a female subordinate prosecutor under the guise of “national security casework” while granting her professional privileges — conduct raising serious conflict-of-interest concerns.
Chau’s predecessor, Maggie Yang, is also widely believed to have covered up the misconduct.
The government responded by claiming the matter had already been investigated, accusing Frances of “malicious smearing,” and reportedly attempting to identify whistleblowers.
Hong Kong’s national security system is increasingly structured to shield those in power from scrutiny.
…It ultimately took a wanted activist — carrying a HK$1 million bounty and speaking from exile — to bring the allegations into public view.
The Hong Kong Department of Justice’s immediate response was not to announce a transparent investigation into the allegations but to threaten Hui with criminal prosecution, vowing to “severely punish lawbreakers in accordance with the law.”
Official propaganda about “foreign forces” and “soft resistance” serves to distract from the steady replacement of transparency with unaccountable power.
The government can point to proof that it does ‘punish lawbreakers’ in its own ranks. From the last three days…
An off-duty police officer and his wife have been charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after their Filipino domestic helper reported being attacked, police said.
The 39-year-old helper reported to police around noon on Monday that she had been assaulted by her employers. She sustained injuries to her hand and head and was taken conscious to United Christian Hospital.
…Police said the force places great importance on officers’ conduct and will not tolerate or condone any illegal behavior.
And…
A police officer has been charged with eight counts of accessing a computer with criminal or dishonest intent and one count of criminal damage, following an investigation into a complaint, authorities said.
Investigations revealed the officer repeatedly accessed police system data without authorisation between April and May 2024. He also allegedly splashed red paint on a residential unit in Wong Tai Sin on May 4, 2024.
…Police said the force places great importance on officers’ conduct and will not tolerate or condone any illegal behaviour.
And…
A former senior police inspector has been jailed for 30 months over misconduct in public office and accepting HK$1.4 million in bribes in exchange for leaking case details and dropping an investigation into a suspect.
…In mitigation, the defence said that Ho faced mental and financial pressure from family issues and “fell into the abyss of selling his soul.” Considering Ho’s guilty plea and mitigation, Judge Wai handed down a 30-month prison sentence, down from a starting point of four years.
In the ABH case, why the “off-duty” qualification and no rank?
A few sacrificial fodder for the Renmin and what’s left of the local press. But mainly to keep the rank and file in line as well as they see they’re still somewhat subject to the same laws as the hoi polloi and can be dumped in a heartbeat.
Meanwhile the executive, connected class are treated to whole different set of protocol.
“In the ABH case, why the “off-duty” qualification and no rank?”
Just enough “what”, bit short on the “who” (including the nameless spouse)… so might absolutely no “where” be due to it having happened at a DSQ perhaps?
Tripods long embedded among the plods