But despite criticism over remarks, legislator Ng Leung-sing insists he was providing another theory for disappearance of Lee Bo and associates
YINGKIT.LAI@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 06 January, 2016, 11:04am
UPDATED : Wednesday, 06 January, 2016, 11:35am
Remarks by legislator Ng Leung-sing (left) on the disappearance of bookseller Lee Bo (right) drew a storm of criticism. Pictures: Reuters, Dickson Lee
Pro-government lawmaker Ng Leung-sing apologised on Wednesday for repeating an unsubstantiated online rumour that the missing bookseller Lee Bo and his four associates were caught by mainland officers while having fun with prostitutes.
But he insisted that his aim was to provide another theory for the disappearances of the five Hong Kong booksellers.
Ng told a Legislative Council meeting on Tuesday afternoon that a friend told him Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo and his four associates had taken a boat to go to the mainland and hire prostitutes there.
The finance-sector lawmaker even alleged that mainland officers had recorded video as “evidence”. Ng claimed that Lee’s wife, Choi Ka-ping, had withdrawn her request for police help because she had received the evidence.
Ng apologised to Lee and Choi on Wednesday morning for alleging that the five had sought prostitutes in the mainland before he was able to verify the claim. He had wanted to share the full message he had received.
“I could not cut short the information I got. I solemnly apologise to Mr Lee and Mrs Lee for mentioning the part involving moral issues without verification,” Ng said.
His accusations sparked a storm of criticism, with People Power lawmaker Raymond Chan Chi-chuen saying: “You will get hit by lightning walking on the street by making such accusations. Those are just internet rumours. Even if [Ng] disappeared one day, I would not believe in internet rumours that he get caught while having fun with prostitutes.”
Not only have his comments seriously hurt me, but to say such irresponsible things at a solemn legislative council meeting is making a fool out of the Hong Kong people. Would anyone cross the border illegally to seek out prostitutes in mainland China?
CHOI KA-PING, WIFE OF MISSING BOOKSELLER LEE BO
Ng on Wednesday said he had wanted the public to have another perspective as rumours were circulating. He was referring in particular to claims that the missing people were arrested by mainland police in the city and then taken across the border.
“That is to let [people] know about a means of leaving Hong Kong – that is, the so-called ‘hair washing’ boat,” Ng said on Wednesday.
Ng’s apology came after Lee’s wife hit out angrily at him on Tuesday evening, describing comments by Ng – made under Legislative Council privilege – as “shameful and irresponsible”.
“I reserve the right to legal action against Ng Leung-sing for slander,” she wrote in a message.
“Not only have his comments seriously hurt me, but to say such irresponsible things at a solemn Legislative Council meeting is making a fool out of the Hong Kong people. Would anyone cross the border illegally to seek out prostitutes in mainland China?”
READ MORE: Missing Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo ‘doesn’t do evil things’, friends insist
Lee, 65, was last seen on Wednesday last week in the Chai Wan warehouse of Mighty Current, the publishing house that owns the bookshop. He vanished weeks after four associates went missing.
The case took a dramatic twist on Monday, when Choi suddenly withdrew her request for police help, claiming she had been in touch with her husband after he vanished.
Deepening the mystery, the Central News Agency published what it said was a handwritten letter faxed by Lee to a bookstore colleague.
The letter stated that Lee “returned to mainland my own way and am working with the concerned parties in an investigation which may take a while”.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1898288/hong-kong-lawmaker-apologises-saying-missing-booksellers
