Hong Kong tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung, who was sentenced by a Macao court in absentia to over five years in prison, on Wednesday withdrew his application for a judicial review of Hong Kong's proposed amendments to the extradition laws.

A statement issued by his attorneys said Lau was deeply saddened by the recent wrangling over the amendments the Hong Kong government proposed, and made the decision to help resolve disputes and create a conducive environment that will help Hong Kong society maintain harmony, stability and prosperity.

Billing Lau as a patriotic businessman, the letter said he always supports the Hong Kong government's administration in accordance with the law. The judicial review application was to protect his rights and interests, a move that was rightful and reasonable. It was not intended to challenge the country nor the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, according to the letter.

The High Court and the office of the Secretary for Justice have been notified of Lau's decision to discontinue the application, which was filed with the High Court on April 1.

In 2014, a Macao court found Lau guilty of bribery and money laundering in a case involving the city's former secretary for transport and public works, Ao Man-long. Lau was sentenced in absentia to five years and three months in prison. Because there is no extradition agreement between Hong Kong and Macao, Lau has avoided prison time.

Hong Kong has mutual legal assistance agreements with 32 jurisdictions and surrender of fugitive agreements with 20 jurisdictions, but has no such agreements with the Chinese mainland, Macao and Taiwan.

If the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance are enacted, Hong Kong can handle the rendition of fugitive offenders in and out of Hong Kong with the remaining jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis.

The second reading of the bill will resume at the Legislative Council on June 12.

Lau is former chairman of Chinese Estates Holdings, one of Hong Kong's major property developers. With a net worth of $16.6 billion, he was ranked by Forbes magazine this year as the world's 65th-richest man.

bingcun@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 05/30/2019 page4)