'Taiwanese Worry About Changes To Hong Kong Laws'

Democratic Party lawmaker James To said on Friday that people he met in Taiwan this week have expressed fears that a planned change to Hong Kong's extradition laws will make the SAR less safe for travellers and business people from the island.

The lawmaker said he spent two days meeting various groups on the island and some of them said that Taiwan shouldn't be used politically as an excuse to make Hong Kong's human rights and rule of law go backwards.

SAR authorities say a recent murder case in Taiwan, where both the victim and prime suspect were Hongkongers, brought into focus the need for changes to the city's legislation on surrendering fugitives.

To said people he met feel that if Hong Kong is going to bring the island into the debate, then it shouldn't amend the law without any negotiations with Taipei. This would "not be respectful" and wouldn't follow the proper procedure, To said he was told.

The legislator also said that political parties in Taiwan believe the SAR authorities should focus solely on the murder case.

The talks, which also involved SAR lawmakers Ray Chan, Chu Hoi-dick and former lawmaker Nathan Law, enabled them to get a better understanding of Taiwan’s concerns over Carrie Lam administration's planned extradition amendments, To said.

He said they held discussions with different parties including, the ruling DPP, Kuomintang, New Power Party and Green Party Taiwan. They also had talks with the lawmaker who heads the legislature's legal panel and some of the island's law experts.