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 when US-based Hong Kong fugitive activist Frances Hui Wing-ting posted it on social media.
She earlier cited “insiders among prosecutors” in accusing newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Chau Tin-hang of misconduct.
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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’ … I have to say that I will be very upset and disappointed if this was true.”
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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.