More Calls For Govt To Withdraw Extradition Bill

A German member of parliament has called on Chancellor Angela Merkel to raise concerns about the situation in Hong Kong with President Xi Jinping during the upcoming G20 summit in Japan.

Martin Patzelt, a member of the governing Christian Democrat Union and the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid in the German parliament, also urged the SAR to withdraw the bill, rather than simply suspending it.

Patzelt made the comments after a meeting with Ray Wong and Alan Li, two Hong Kong men who were recently granted asylum by Germany.

And in a statement, Patzelt called those protesting against the bill on June 12 "defenders of freedom", and they should be praised "for their great courage and remarkable political commitment in the face of the threat of their freedom being restricted".

The German lawmaker added they should not face charges for their roles in the protest.

Patzelt also condemned the use of rubber bullets and tear gas, and what's described as the excessive use of force by the police against demonstrators and journalists.

The Hong Kong Bar Association also said the extradition bill should be withdrawn completely.

In a statement, the Bar Association said even though the government has made it clear the bill is unlikely to be re-introduced during this legislative term, the failure to withdraw it "is wholly unsatisfactory because it gives rise to concerns that any future consultation to be conducted by the Government on the topics of the surrender of fugitives and cross-border legal assistance will still be curtailed by the parameters set by the bill".

The association said any such legislation should not be introduced "without full and open consultation involving the Hong Kong public and others who have an interest in the subject matter".

The association added it is in the public interest to set up an independent commission of inquiry to look into the violence on June 12.