Frederic Choi

Frederic Choi Chin-pang PDSM (Chinese: 蔡展鵬; born 28 August 1970) is a former director of the National Security Division of the Hong Kong Police Force. He was sanctioned by the United States in early 2021 for his role in implementing the Hong Kong national security law. Choi was suspended from the police force in May 2021 after reportedly being caught in a raid at an unlicensed massage parlour.

Frederic Choi
PDSM
蔡展鵬
Director of National Security
Hong Kong Police Force
In office
1 July 2020 – 11 August 2020
HeadEdwina Lau
Succeeded byAndrew Kan
Personal details
Born (1970-08-28) 28 August 1970
British Hong Kong
Alma materHong Kong Baptist University (BSS)
AwardsPolice Distinguished Service Medal (2020)
Chief Executive's Commendation for Government and Public Service (2021)
Frederic Choi
Traditional Chinese蔡展鵬
Simplified Chinese蔡展鹏

Early life

Choi was born on 28 August 1970 in Hong Kong.[1] He studied at Hong Kong Baptist University, graduating with a bachelor of social sciences in China studies in 1992.[2][3]

Career

Choi joined the Royal Hong Kong Police in 1995 as an inspector.[4] He was promoted to senior superintendent in 2014.[5] He was promoted again to chief superintendent in 2017, and to assistant commissioner in January 2019, commanding the police force's security wing.[6]

In July 2020, following the passage of the Hong Kong national security law, Choi was promoted to the rank of senior assistant commissioner and was tasked with commanding the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force.[7]

In May 2021, he was placed on leave pending investigation for alleged misconduct. The police force did not provide details.[4] However, the South China Morning Post reported that Choi had been caught in a raid on an unlicensed massage parlour.[5][8] The venue was later revealed to be Viet Spa, on Johnston Road in Wan Chai.[9] In October 2021, a judge ruled that prosecutors (led by Claudia Ko Hoi-yee), charging the massage parlour's managers, had heavily edited the CCTV footage to hide Choi's face, and forced the prosecutors to provide the unedited footage.[10] The defense lawyers for the managers had asked for the unedited footage to see if Choi was a regular customer.[10] Besides the CCTV footage, the prosecutors had also withheld Choi's police statements.[10]

In August 2022, Choi testified that he had visited the massage parlour 4 to 5 times from 2020 to 2021, and claimed he never received any sexual services.[11] Choi also said he was not offered any sexual services, and never saw any such services either.[12]

Sanctions

On 15 January 2021, Choi was sanctioned by the United States under Executive Order 13936 for his role in regards to the National Security Law.[13][14]

Decorations

Choi was awarded the Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2020 in recognition of "his outstanding performance and dedicated service in the Hong Kong Police Force for over 25 years".[15]

On 10 February 2021, Choi and other police officials sanctioned by the United States were awarded the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government and Public Service by Chief Executive Carrie Lam (who herself was also sanctioned).[16]

Personal life

According to an official biography, Choi holds master's degrees in human rights law and public policy and management.[6]

In March 2021, it was reported that he owned a fully paid-off flat in Fo Tan then valued at HK$13.09 million.[17]

References
  1. "SPECIALLY DESIGNATED NATIONALS LIST UPDATE". United States Department of the Treasury. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  2. "畢業同學錄 - 香港浸會大學中國研究" (PDF) (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). China Studies Office, Hong Kong Baptist University. 31 May 1992. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  3. "Geography Alumni honoured for their distinguished contributions". Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  4. "Senior national security cop 'under investigation'". RTHK. 12 May 2021. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021.
  5. Leung, Christy (12 May 2021). "Anti-triad squad to investigate police national security director caught in raid on Hong Kong massage parlour". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  6. "Senior Officers". Hong Kong Police Force. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  7. Kwan, Rhoda (12 May 2021). "Hong Kong's no. 2 national security officer under investigation after being found in unlicensed massage parlour". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  8. "Hong Kong: Top cop caught in unlicensed massage parlour raid". BBC News. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  9. Wong, Brian (2 June 2021). "4 charged over sex offences in case linked to unlicensed Hong Kong massage parlour where senior police officer was found". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  10. Wong, Brian (21 October 2021). "Hong Kong magistrate orders prosecutors to hand over unedited footage from national security police head's visit to unlicensed massage parlour". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  11. "Former national security director admits visiting massage parlor but denies receiving sex services". The Standard. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  12. Wong, Brian (20 December 2022). "Operator, staff of unlicensed Hong Kong massage parlour escape vice conviction after top national security cop caught there says he saw no sex for sale". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  13. Pamuk, Humeyra; Brunnstrom, David (15 January 2021). "U.S. announces new sanctions on six linked to Hong Kong mass arrests". Reuters. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  14. "Designating PRC and Hong Kong Officials after Widespread Pro-Democracy Arrests in Hong Kong". U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  15. "2020 Honours List". Hong Kong Government. 1 October 2020.
  16. Mok, Maisy (11 February 2021). "Show of force as seven US-sanctioned officers presented top awards". The Standard. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  17. Mok, Maisy (9 March 2021). "Another sanctioned cop pays off mortgage". The Standard. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
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