A London court yesterday agreed the change of sovereignty should not be a bar to a British soldier being extradited to Hong Kong where he is wanted in connection with the death of a construction worker. Stipendiary magistrate Ronald Bartle said extradition laws existed between the two places and that papers submitted by the former colonial administration in the case of Warrant Officer Barrie Miller, 36, were still valid. Miller is wanted in connection with the death of Australian Gary Tait after a fight outside a Wan Chai bar in April. Mr Bartle told Bow Street Magistrates' Court he was satisfied there were proper arrangements between Britain and Hong Kong and under the Joint Declaration it was agreed there would be no change. Miller's solicitor Andrew Coleman made clear after the case he intended to appeal to the High Court on behalf of his client. Mr Coleman said that because the original extradition agreement was under British rule and any actual extradition would be under the SAR his argument would be over whether such a case, which spanned the handover, actually was covered.
