本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛I bet that if he is extradited to China, he will have heart attack in 2 years. It just serves him right.
Alleged Chinese smuggling kingpin describes how he once spied for China
GREG JOYCE
VANCOUVER (CP) - Lai Changxing, regarded in China as one of its most wanted fugitives and wealthiest former citizens, told his refugee hearing Friday he once spied on Taiwan for China before falling into disfavour with the Communist government.
Lai, who has been described as a smuggling kingpin, fled to Canada from Hong Kong almost two years ago after he said he was tipped of his imminent arrest by a now-deceased Hong Kong immigration official.
Lai told the two-person panel that in 1991 he was encouraged to migrate to Hong Kong to take further advantage of his business acumen.
By 1997, when control of Hong Kong reverted to China, he said he was contacted by some high-level Taiwanese officials who wanted him to become head of an association of Hong Kong citizens who had originally come from Taiwan or China's Fujian province.
He said the Taiwanese officials wanted him to take the position because he had many friends in his former Fujian province, and he was also well-known due to his business prowess.
At about the same time, however, China became aware of this overture from Taiwan to Lai and asked him to provide intelligence on Taiwan.
"They wanted me to find all Taiwan organizations in Hong Kong and their personnel," said Lai, speaking in Mandarin through an interpreter.
He told the hearing he was also able to provide military information.
Lai was in Canada for more than a year before he claimed refugee status, citing fear of persecution if he returned to China.
Chinese authorities have investigated Lai and his wife Tsang Mingna in connection with smuggling, bribery and other corruption in China's coastal Fujian province.
They allege he masterminded a network responsible for smuggling $10 billion US worth of goods into the country with protection from corrupt officials.
In his third full day testifying before the Immigration and Refugee Board, Lai explained some statements he made more than a year ago when he completed his personal information form, a crucial document all foreigners must complete when they apply for refugee status.
Lai, who was in his third full day of testimony, was expected to resume testimony next week and then undergo cross-examination by Citizenship and Immigration lawyers who are opposing his bid to stay in Canada.
The case is drawing international attention.
The Chinese have apparently promised Canada that he would not be executed if returned to China, but his lawyer, David Matas, has suggested that assurance is worthless.
The Supreme Court of Canada prohibits, except in extreme cases, the removal of people from Canada to countries where they could be executed.
Matas also has accused Canada of effectively acting as China's agent in the Lai case.
The refugee board is independent of the federal government and the Immigration Department.
But in this case, Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan took the unusual step of intervening because the department says Lai doesn't fit any criteria necessary for refugee status, and because he's accused of committing serious, non-political crimes in China.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Alleged Chinese smuggling kingpin describes how he once spied for China
GREG JOYCE
VANCOUVER (CP) - Lai Changxing, regarded in China as one of its most wanted fugitives and wealthiest former citizens, told his refugee hearing Friday he once spied on Taiwan for China before falling into disfavour with the Communist government.
Lai, who has been described as a smuggling kingpin, fled to Canada from Hong Kong almost two years ago after he said he was tipped of his imminent arrest by a now-deceased Hong Kong immigration official.
Lai told the two-person panel that in 1991 he was encouraged to migrate to Hong Kong to take further advantage of his business acumen.
By 1997, when control of Hong Kong reverted to China, he said he was contacted by some high-level Taiwanese officials who wanted him to become head of an association of Hong Kong citizens who had originally come from Taiwan or China's Fujian province.
He said the Taiwanese officials wanted him to take the position because he had many friends in his former Fujian province, and he was also well-known due to his business prowess.
At about the same time, however, China became aware of this overture from Taiwan to Lai and asked him to provide intelligence on Taiwan.
"They wanted me to find all Taiwan organizations in Hong Kong and their personnel," said Lai, speaking in Mandarin through an interpreter.
He told the hearing he was also able to provide military information.
Lai was in Canada for more than a year before he claimed refugee status, citing fear of persecution if he returned to China.
Chinese authorities have investigated Lai and his wife Tsang Mingna in connection with smuggling, bribery and other corruption in China's coastal Fujian province.
They allege he masterminded a network responsible for smuggling $10 billion US worth of goods into the country with protection from corrupt officials.
In his third full day testifying before the Immigration and Refugee Board, Lai explained some statements he made more than a year ago when he completed his personal information form, a crucial document all foreigners must complete when they apply for refugee status.
Lai, who was in his third full day of testimony, was expected to resume testimony next week and then undergo cross-examination by Citizenship and Immigration lawyers who are opposing his bid to stay in Canada.
The case is drawing international attention.
The Chinese have apparently promised Canada that he would not be executed if returned to China, but his lawyer, David Matas, has suggested that assurance is worthless.
The Supreme Court of Canada prohibits, except in extreme cases, the removal of people from Canada to countries where they could be executed.
Matas also has accused Canada of effectively acting as China's agent in the Lai case.
The refugee board is independent of the federal government and the Immigration Department.
But in this case, Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan took the unusual step of intervening because the department says Lai doesn't fit any criteria necessary for refugee status, and because he's accused of committing serious, non-political crimes in China.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net