Anti-triad squad to investigate police national security director caught in raid on Hong Kong massage parlour
- Frederic Choi ordered to take nearly a month of leave after officers found him at massage establishment during crackdown
- Police chief Chris Tang admits scandal will affect force’s reputation but remains tight-lipped on whether Choi will resign
Hong Kong’s police chief has ordered his anti-triad team to investigate the No 2 officer in the National Security Department after he was caught during a raid on an unlicensed massage parlour and placed on leave.
Commissioner of Police Chris Tang Ping-keung on Wednesday admitted that the scandal would undoubtedly affect the reputation of the force, but it would be business as usual for the department working as a team on national security issues.
Tang confirmed exclusive reporting by the Post that Senior Assistant Commissioner and Director of National Security Frederic Choi Chin-pang had been ordered to step away from his role for nearly a month over alleged misconduct.
But speaking to the media at police headquarters in Wan Chai, Tang remained tight-lipped about details of the case, only explaining that Choi would not be involved in any further national security work.
While a source told the Post that Choi was considering resigning, Tang said he had not received any such notice from the officer.
“As his supervisor, I must investigate fairly and impartially. That is why I ordered the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau to look into a misconduct allegation to ensure the impartiality, profession and the degree of the investigation,” he said.
“Of course this incident would have an effect on the overall situation of the police force,” the police chief said. “But I think the work of the National Security Department will not be affected by the investigation of an allegation against an individual officer, because we are a team and work as a team.”
The police force would pass the results of the investigation and a disciplinary hearing to the Civil Service Bureau for follow-up action, he added.
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Hong Kong police investigate top national security officer caught in massage parlour raid
On whether the central government’s national security office in Hong Kong or the National Security Committee chaired by the city’s leader would need to become involved, Tang said: “It is a purely internal investigation of the police force. It is unrelated to any other units.”
Asked if he himself should resign to take overall responsibility, Tang said he would bear the consequences in accordance with regulations if the investigation pinpointed any failure on his part.
A source said earlier that visiting or buying services at an unlicensed massage parlour might not constitute an offence that could result in an arrest, but Choi’s conduct would hurt the image and reputation of the force.
“Not to mention that he is a senior commander in charge of a sensitive department,” the source said.
Undersecretary for Security Sonny Au Chi-kwong promised a fair investigation.
“I think the force will follow up the matter in accordance with the established procedures for civil servants,” Au told reporters outside the Legislative Council.
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Disciplinary hearings for senior police officers of superintendent to commissioner ranks are handled by the Civil Service Bureau, and the chief executive’s approval is needed for their dismissal.
Officers at that level are also required to provide three months’ notice to the commissioner when they resign.
When asked about damage to the reputation of force, former security minister and top government adviser Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said the investigation demonstrated that authorities were handling disciplinary matters impartially.
“It shows that everyone is equal before the law, irrespective of whether the concerned person is a law enforcer. But at the same time, we must respect the right of the accused to be presumed innocent,” she said. “I’m confident the case will be handled impartially.”
In Hong Kong, it is an offence to run an unlicensed massage establishment, with offenders facing up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,440). Buying service at such premises is not illegal.
Democratic Party’s chairman Lo Kin-hei said he was deeply disappointed over how police were handling the case, saying the force had covered it up until the media broke the news.
Although Tang had pledged the force would be open and transparent with the matter, he had refused to provide any details, Lo said, adding evasiveness would not help build public confidence in the police chief’s vow.
Choi joined the force in 1995 and was promoted to senior superintendent in 2014, then given the job of leading a Security Wing formation tasked with intelligence operations, investigation, analysis and liaison. He was made senior assistant commissioner and director of the National Security Department in July.
He received the Hong Kong Police Medal for Distinguished Service from Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor last year.
Choi was among seven top officers honoured by Lam for their contributions to safeguarding national security at a ceremony at Government House in February.
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A government statement at the time noted the force had, within “a critical time span”, urgently prepared the needed manpower, equipment and strategies to enforce Beijing’s new law.
“Seven relevant police officers made personal sacrifices to safeguard national security and ensure the full implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, demonstrating steadfastness and fearlessness,” the statement said.
Washington sanctioned all seven individuals, freezing their assets linked to the United States after accusing them of undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy, a charge both Beijing and the local government dismissed as foreign interference.
The National Security Department has arrested 107 people on suspicion of national security offences, with 57 prosecuted so far.
Additional reporting by Natalie Wong and Danny Mok
