'Linking Fugitive Law With Businesses Far-fetched'

The government on Wednesday dismissed as "far-fetched" a US report that said the proposed changes to Hong Kong's extradition laws would affect the city's business environment and put all US citizens here at risk of rendition to the mainland.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau, said on Wednesday the report does show the need for the government to explain the issue more, so that people will not misunderstand the bill.

He said Hong Kong puts a strong emphasis on its relationships with foreign countries, but "such relationships are not based on the views of a particular country or its congress", but rather on mutually beneficial relations.

Commenting on the report, New People's Party lawmaker Regina Ip said it is unnecessary for the US to express concern.

She said she thinks the report reflects US concerns that Beijing could move to extradite Americans to the mainland from Hong Kong after changes to the city's extradition laws are passed, as part of China's retaliation against Washington's prosecution of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

But Ip said since the start of the current Sino-US trade dispute, no Americans have been detained or prosecuted by the mainland.

But Democratic Party lawmaker James To said he is deeply worried that the passage of the extradition bill would prompt the US to change its policy towards Hong Kong. To said that could seriously harm Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre.

Another pro-democracy councillor, Charles Mok from the Professionals Guild, said the report was a signal from the US to the Hong Kong government, and the Carrie Lam administrationcannot ignore what's going on.

Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok, meanwhile, said the report not only reflects concerns from the US, but the entire international community. He said the SAR government must withdraw the bill immediately.

But in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, dismissed the document, saying the "so-called report is not even worth refuting".

Geng said issues in Hong Kong are an internal matter of China and external forces shouldn't interfere. He also said the US congressional panel has always been biased against China.