'Consuls Reviewing HK Ties Over Extradition Row'

A number of foreign countries are reviewing their bilateral agreements with Hong Kong over concerns about government plans to amend the city’s extradition laws, according to a lawmaker who attended a luncheon with more than 30 diplomats in Legco on Monday.

Civic Party legislator Dennis Kwok said multiple envoys expressed fears that their nationals could be transferred to the mainland as a result of the proposed legal changes – which would allow Hong Kong to surrender suspects of serious crimes to jurisdictions with which it has no formal extradition agreement.

He said representatives of several countries said “they are seeking further instructions from their foreign office as to how [the extradition bill] will affect or even lead to the cancellation of bilateral agreements between Hong Kong and those other jurisdictions”.

Kwok added that some diplomats indicated that they may follow the lead of the European Union in making formal protests over the extradition bill.

“Whether these governments will [make] further formal protests to the Hong Kong government, that is also on the table”, Kwok said.” And, I have heard that may happen in relation to several countries”, he added.

Pro-establishment lawmaker Regina Ip, who attended the same lunch, confirmed that many envoys expressed concerns about the legal changes – including how it’s being rushed through the Legislative Council.

“They’re worried that human rights safeguards would be weak, given that legislators will not scrutinise the bill any further,” she said.

But Ip said she tried to convince them there was nothing to worry about, given that local courts will vet extradition requests, and those affected can always lodge judicial reviews if they are worried they will be stripped of the right to a fair trial.

Ip also relayed the diplomats’ view that the SAR government “hasn’t given enough weight” to the views of the international business community. Influential organisations like the American Chamber of Commerce has said it has “serious concerns” that the bill could see people extradited to other places with very different criminal justice systems.

“I think the SAR government has to do more to explain the bill,” Ip said.

She added that she did not hear anyone speak in support of the bill, but DAB chairwoman Starry Lee told reporters she heard some envoys "clearly show their support to this bill."