Hong Kong authorities have slammed viral claims by an overseas activist, saying her allegations that a top government prosecutor used public funds to pursue a romance with a colleague amounted to “malicious smearing.”
The Department of Justice (DoJ) said they have referred the matter to police. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (Special Duties) Anthony Chau outside the Court of Final Appeal on August 9, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. US-based activist Frances Hui alleged in a Facebook post – published in the early hours of Saturday local time – that the new Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Chau had used his powers to arrange five-star hotels with a female subordinate, as well as give preferential treatment to her.
Hui, who is wanted under the national security law, cited insider sources as saying that Chau requested that police book rooms at the Murray Hotel for the two of them during occasions including Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day.
She added that Chau also gave the subordinate major roles to advance her career, including involvement in the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission’s high-profile trial against hedge fund Segantii.
Chau, who has served as a prosecutor for major national security cases – including the 47 democrats and Jimmy Lai proceedings – was promoted to the director of public prosecutions post last week. Frances Hui. File photo: Frances Hui, via Facebook. The subordinate was also a prosecutor in the Lai case, working alongside Chau.
Hui added in her Facebook post that Chau’s predecessor and former superior, Maggie Yang, was aware of Chau’s acts.
‘Ill-intentioned’
In response to Hui’s post, the DoJ said in a statement published on Saturday afternoon that the allegations were “completely without factual basis, entirely fabricated, and constitute malicious smearing.”
“It is ill-intentioned for someone to maliciously spread rumours online… and to deliberately smear dedicated prosecutors who perform duties in safeguarding national security,” the statement read. Department of Justice. Photo: GovHK. The allegations were intended to defame public officers, the department’s prosecution division, and “even the reputation of the entire department.”
It added that an earlier complaint had already been rejected: “The DoJ had earlier conducted a rigorous investigation into an anonymous complaint containing relevant content in accordance with the established procedures, and is confident that the allegations are completely without factual basis, entirely fabricated, and constitute malicious smearing.”
The DoJ added that it had referred this incident to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.
Hui was among five activists that national security police issued arrest warrants for in December 2023. She and the other activists have HK$1 million bounties on their heads.
The 26-year-old is wanted for allegedly colluding with foreign forces. She was granted asylum in the US in 2021.