To resolve homicide case suspect Chan Tong-kai’s surrender to Taiwan, the first step has to be taken by the Taiwan side in allowing Mr Chan's entry, the Security Bureau said today.

In a statement, the bureau noted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government hopes that the matter can be resolved as soon as possible, adding that the power to allow Mr Chan’s entry is only in the hands of Taiwan.

It said that if Mr Chan is allowed to enter Taiwan, even if the approval is given in principle only, the Taiwan side can notify the Hong Kong side via the police liaison channel. Police units of both sides can then start working on the arrangement of the trip.

The statement reiterated that self-surrender and legal assistance are two independent matters and that legal assistance has never been a prerequisite for accepting an act of surrender.

It also pointed out that Hong Kong's relevant legislation on legal assistance is not applicable to Taiwan and it is impossible for the Hong Kong SAR Government to violate the laws.

It is utterly unreasonable and impracticable for Taiwan to set legal assistance as the pretext for surrender, it added.