Not For Us To Say Who Could Get Death Penalty: Govt

Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng says it is not up to the Hong Kong government to say whether people sent to the mainland over alleged national security violations could face the death penalty.

Under the new legislation, suspects linked to cases in "complicated situations" will be tried in a mainland court, under mainland law.

Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office deputy director Zhang Xiaoming also revealed on Wednesday that anyone arrested and charged by the mainland's security office which will be set up in Hong Kong will be taken across the border for trial.

At a press conference on the new security law, Cheng said that once a suspect is handed over to mainland authorities, it will be up to the courts there to decide on the appropriate penalty.

"That of course is already carved out and therefore no longer something that is within the jurisdiction of Hong Kong," Cheng said.

"Therefore how that is to be dealt with will be something that will not be within the purview that we will be able to interfere in that sense."

The national security legislation when it is to be applied in Hong Kong carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the most serious cases.