Business Group Seeks Limit To Extradition Scope

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce asked the government on Monday to further narrow the scope of proposed changes to Hong Kong’s extradition laws, citing the need to safeguard the SAR's ‘strong and robust’ criminal justice system.

Many business leaders have voiced concerns over government plans to allow fugitives to be surrendered to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong has no formal extradition agreement, including the mainland, Macau and Taiwan.

During a meeting with the Secretary for Security John Lee, representatives of the influential business group asked the government to only allow the transfer of fugitives accused of committing offences that are punishable by at least seven years in prison – compared to the minimum of three years currently on the table.

Chamber chairman Aron Harilela said his group also requested that the government only entertain extradition requests from the central government, rather than provincial governments; and further human rights safeguards for suspects.

“We understand the need and the underlying rationale for a fugitives ordinance but it has far wider implications on our criminal justice scheme”, Harilela said. “And Hong Kong as an international business centre requires a very strong and robust criminal justice system.”

Harilela added that as a business organisation, the chamber’s prime concern is “to make sure that Hong Kong is a great city, and a safe city for international companies and Hong Kong companies to do business – whether they’re doing business here in Hong Kong or also with the mainland.”

He said the chamber is now hoping for a positive response from the government.