'Prospect Of Mainland Trials Will Strike Fear In HK'

New People’s Party chairwoman and executive councillor Regina Ip has raised concerns about the prospect of Hong Kong people being extradited to the mainland to face trial for national security offences.

Earlier in the day, National People's Congress Standing Committee member Tam Yiu-chung said sending people across the border would be an option in the most serious cases covered by the incoming national security legislation.

He said this would depend on how Beijing decides to exercise its jurisdiction.

In response to Tam's comments, Ip said the possibility of extraditions to the mainland would worry a lot of people in Hong Kong.

She said residents are accustomed to the common law system, which guarantees defendants the right to an open, highly transparent trial and offers many human rights protections.

"There is no doubt that the central authorities have jurisdiction on national security offences. The fact that local courts also have jurisdiction does not exclude the jurisdiction of the mainland central authorities," Ip said.

"But naturally, if a decision is taken or the draft legislation has the effect that Hong Kong people accused of infringing serious national offences could be transferred to the mainland for trial, given that the mainland has a totally different legal and judicial system from Hong Kong, that would cause considerable concerns."