Public demands answers from DP over alleged abduction
The public were demanding answers in the alleged abduction case of political activist Howard Lam Tsz-kin — after Hong Kong police arrested him on Tuesday, accusing him of misleading officers.
Previously, Lam, a member of the Democratic Party (DP), claimed he was kidnapped in one of the city’s busiest business districts — Mong Kok — then tortured and dumped by people he described as “mainland security agents”.
Police suspect he provided fake information about his case following a detailed investigation which included surveillance camera footage checks and a search for witnesses.
Footage now released shows Lam was not abducted at the place he claimed. Instead, he was walking freely and left Mong Kok by public transport. The footage also shows he may have been wearing a mask, a cap and a pair of sun glasses.
Under the Police Force Ordinance, anyone who knowingly misleads a police officer by giving false information or making false statements or accusations is liable to a fine of HK$1,000 and to imprisonment for six months.
Lam is still in police custody.
The saga has aroused skepticism about Lam’s credibility, as well as that of the DP and opposition camp. This is after 22 lawmakers from the camp issued a joint open letter questioning the government’s “capability to protect Hong Kong people’s safety”.
Some 10 people gathered at the headquarters of the DP voicing their opposition to the party’s conduct. They criticized it for upsetting the public and failing to doublecheck facts.
They also questioned whether the DP has anything to hide from the public, urging them to tell Hong Kong people the truth.
The same day, more than 20 people from local concern group Defend Hong Kong Campaign urged the DP to apologize for misleading the public and wasting police resources.
The DP held a press conference last Friday, one day after Lam claimed to have been kidnapped. It condemned the conduct of those they called “mainland national security agents”.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said she trusted Hong Kong people to make their own judgments about the case based on facts. She believed the Hong Kong Police Force will reveal the truth after a comprehensive investigation.
Ronny Tong Ka-wah, executive councilor and convener of local think tank Path of Democracy, wrote in his Facebook post that he was “stunned” by the sudden change. He said if the police investigation proves Howard Lam behaved wrongly, it will damage the DP’s credibility.
He speculated as to whether they were plotting to paralyze the co-location arrangement at the highspeed rail terminus in West Kowloon, or to oppose the central government’s authority.
“Is it that political standoffs are driving us to insanity?” Tong asked.