April 6, 2019
International
Organizations Oppose HKSAR Government Amendment to Extradition Laws
In response to the charging of a Hong
Kong resident with murder in Taiwan, the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government proposed a controversial “one-off case based
surrender”
arrangement to extend coverage of Hong Kong extradition laws to Taiwan and Mainland China.
Once enacted, anyone physically present in Hong Kong can be extradited to Mainland
China for trial if he/she is deemed to engage in criminal activities by the Beijing
government. Moreover, to appease powerful business
interests, the Hong Kong government
restricted the scope of the extradition law so it would not include white collar crimes, making
these changes to extradition laws a naked attempt to suppress local opposition voices.
In past years, the Beijing government
has engaged in a massive crackdown on political dissidents in Mainland China, Hong Kong
and Macao, using intimidation, harassment, arbitrary charges, forced confessions,
unlawful detention, and unfair trials. In the case of Gui Minhai, a partner of Causeway Bay
Bookstore, the authenticity of the fatal traffic accident charge and the subsequent “confession” are highly
questionable. In the absence of democracy and an independent judicial
system in China, the proposed amendment to the extradition laws will enable China to
use trumped-up charges to effect the extradition of
dissidents from Hong Kong.
This controversial proposal has raised
serious concerns throughout the international community, the citizens of which could
be subject to arbitrary arrest while they are in transit, travelling, working and living in Hong
Kong. The passing of such an amendment would not only diminish the freedoms of speech,
publication, academic pursuits and other freedoms in Hong Kong, it also threatens its
autonomy, prosperity and political stability. It will erode Hong
Kong’s status as a regional hub for international
business, media companies and civil society. We therefore urge the HKSAR
Government to withdraw the proposed amendment to the extradition laws.
Association of Overseas Hong Kong
Chinese for Democracy and Human Rights, Boston (海外香港華人民主人權促進會)
Canada-Hong Kong Link,Toronto (港加聯)
Friends of Hong Kong and Macau of Boston
(波士頓港澳之友社)
Hong Kong Forum, Los Angeles (洛杉磯香港論壇)
Movement for Democracy in China, Calgary
(卡城中國民主促進會)
Northern California Hong Kong Club (北加州香港會)
NY4HK, New York
Toronto Association for Democracy in
China (多倫多支持中國民運會)
Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society (溫哥華香港協進會)
Vancouver
Society in Support of Democratic Movement (温哥華支援民主運動聯合會)
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