Demosisto Protest Outside Justice Secretary's Home

Around 10 members of the pro-democracy Demosisto group protested outside the residence of Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng on The Peak on Friday morning, demanding the government drop its plan to amend extradition legislation.

The demonstration came as the SAR government gazetted its proposed changes to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance – a plan that would allow the authorities to surrender people to other jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis, even if there is no formal extradition treaty in place.

Thirty-seven different kinds of offences will be covered, including serious crimes such as rape, kidnap and murder.

But nine categories, mostly corporate crimes, were removed after the government came under heavy pressure from the business sector who fear executives will be handed over to the mainland.

The Demosisto members accused the government of favouring the business community with the concessions, and said the climbdown was also to make sure the administration secures enough votes in Legco to pass the law changes.

They complained that there hasn't been a proper public consultation exercise over the move and that the government has ignored the concerns of human rights groups and the legal sector.

Demosisto said Cheng has failed to address the public's worries that Hongkongers will be surrendered to places with dubious judicial systems.

Police turned up at the protest, which lasted for around two hours. Officers merely noted down the names of those taking part.

Now the extradition law bill has been gazetted it will be put to Legco for its first reading on April 3.