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HK 'acted on its own' in Libyan rendition case

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Beijing has defended Hong Kong's controversial role in the British-led rendition of a suspected terrorist from China to Libya.

It said the city's administration had 'full authority and discretion' to grant permission to people entering or leaving the city.

The Foreign Ministry statement in response to a Sunday Morning Post inquiry is the first time Beijing has commented on the case. Beijing said it was aware of recent reports detailing the rendition in 2004 of Sami al-Saadi via Chek Lap Kok airport. Saadi recently described six years of torture in the jails of ousted Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi upon his return to the country - despite CIA documents showing Hong Kong authorities had asked for assurances that he and his family would be humanely treated once back in Libya.

'The said Libyan jihadist was arrested at the Hong Kong airport for using a fake passport,' the ministry statement said. 'According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong has the full authority and discretion to grant permission to people to enter or leave the city,' it said and referred further requests for information to Hong Kong departments.

In Hong Kong, Security Bureau officials remained tight-lipped about the matter, repeating their earlier statement that they did not discuss individual cases. But legislators and human rights advocates said Saadi's story raised many questions and authorities should clarify what happened.

James To Kun-sun, a Democratic Party legislator and chairman of the Legco security panel, worried it could set a bad example.

'It is all very grey ... my guess is immigration revoked any consent to stay, but his departure doesn't seem to have been handled as a deportation or an extradition,' To said. 'This de facto extradition sets a very worrying precedent.' He is considering formally raising the matter in Legco.

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