Hi QPK, OT: China is certainly trying to attract this guy back, and he seems so unwilling, trying to delay his travels by telling all kinds of stories :0)
breakingnews.scmp.com
QUOTE
Saturday, July 07, 2001
8:09 am (GMT+8)
Accused smuggler Lai tells of helping Beijing spy
Lai Changxing, who is accused by Beijing of running a multibillion-dollar smuggling empire, pushed his case for getting political asylum in Canada by claiming on July 6 he helped Beijing spy on Taiwanese military officials. Lai is pictured last December. REUTERS/Stringer
Alleged Chinese smuggling kingpin Lai Changxing pushed his bid for political asylum in Canada on Friday by detailing his claim of having helped Beijing spy on Taiwanese military officials.
The refugee tribunal hearing Lai's case barred the news media from covering most of his testimony after he warned that some of the people he had contact with were still in office and might be harmed if their names were made public.
In a portion of the hearing in Vancouver that was open to coverage, Lai said he provided a vehicle for China to obtain detailed records about unnamed Hong Kong officials who were expected to remain after British rule on the territory ended.
Lai, who is considered one of China's most wanted fugitives, is fighting to remain in Canada. Chinese authorities are seeking his return and accuse him of leading a smuggling empire that bribed hundreds of government officials.
Lai had earlier told the tribunal that Chinese officials helped him move to Hong Kong in 1991, with the agreement that he would help them collect information on student activists after the Tiananmen Square incident. He said he was to do the same on Taiwan.
Lai, 42, has denied China's claims of criminal wrongdoing, arguing he was a successful businessman who helped the Chinese government, but fell victim to political infighting in the country's national security system.
Addressing the Canadian tribunal through a translator, Lai said on Friday he became wealthy in Hong Kong by using profits from real estate deals to buy businesses in China.
Canada immigration officials have opposed Lai's bid for asylum and support China's argument that his alleged crimes were not political. Lai came to Canada in 1999 on a tourist visa and filed his asylum bid in June 2000.
His asylum bid has placed Ottawa in an awkward political position. It is basing its case against him on evidence collected by Chinese police, but has been critical in the past of Chinese authorities over human rights abuses.
UNQUOTE
for those here who do not know the backgroud ... flip pages <<Next>> to see progression of the case ...
business.scmp.com
Obvious, the guy has nothing to fear but fear itself ... which really cleanses the mind of non-essentials and focuses the coconut on the the downside ...
asia.cnn.com
Chugs, Jay |
