Legco Should Pass Fugitive Bill Quickly: Maria Tam

A deputy director of Beijing's Basic Law Committee, Maria Tam, says Legco should pass the government's extradition amendment bill before the legislature's summer recess, otherwise lawmakers will have to start all over again at a later date.

Tam said even though Taiwan murder suspect Chan Tong-kai was given a 29-month jail term by the High Court on Monday, the changes to legislation must still be completed by July.

She said dissidents shouldn't be allowed to "hijack Legco's functions".

Tam also rejected the Civic Party's call to give Hong Kong courts extra-territorial jurisdiction when it comes to serious crimes committed elsewhere, saying this would be difficult, and defendants could argue that they would be subject to an unfair trial.

DAB legislator Holden Chow also said there is a need to pass the government's proposed amendments as soon as possible.

He said he hoped his pro-democracy colleagues will not filibuster a meeting scrutinising the bill on Tuesday.

The last meeting ended in chaos and members couldn't even choose a chairman after two hours of acrimony.