Hong Kong police take away pollster for investigation over aiding absconder

Hong Kong national security police have taken away a pollster to assist with an investigation into aiding an absconder.

Robert Chung Ting-yiu, president of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (Pori), was taken away from his home by officers from the National Security Department on Monday morning, according to a source.

Pori former deputy executive director Chung Kim-wah, an outspoken commentator who moved to Britain in 2022, was among six wanted overseas-based activists named by police in December last year for allegedly contravening the national security law.

The 64-year-old was accused of repeatedly advocating the city’s independence on a social media platform between May and June last year, as well as calling for sanctions against Beijing and Hong Kong between 2020 and 2023.

Police also placed bounties of HK$1 million (US$128,690) on the six activists, including Joseph Tay, a 62-year-old former actor and founder of Canada-based NGO Hongkonger Station which claims to provide uncensored information.

Last December, Robert Chung said that there were no longer any ties between Chung Kim-wah and the institute following his contract expiry in 2022, adding the pair had not been in contact for a long time.