Opinion | Hong Kong’s extradition bill should strike fear in all who do business in China, exemptions notwithstanding

Thousands of Hong Kong people marched on Sunday in protest against the government’s proposed amendment to the extradition law, the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance. The government should not ignore the huge public uproar.

It’s apparent that the authorities are making use of the Taiwanese murder case to justify a push now to revise the law. The new law will surely put everyone in Hong Kong at risk, since it allows the discredited judicial authorities in mainland China to request the extradition of suspects from Hong Kong.

The extradition bill is widely considered to be more evil than Article 23 of the Basic Law, the national security legislation that the government had tried but failed to enact. In Hong Kong, all court trials are based on the principle of presumption of innocence. That would even be the case for Article 23 and other laws like the proposed national anthem law. One can be defended at court in a fair manner under a well-established judicial system. The onus of proof falls on the prosecution, which has to provide evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt to obtain a conviction.

As expected, the government is undeterred by the opposition of the business sector and foreign chambers of commerce. The amendment bill was submitted to the Legislative Council for the first reading on Wednesday.

The Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, which is supposed to represent the interests of the business sector, has shown its support for the bill; the Liberal Party’s stance, however, remains unclear. Nevertheless, it is likely that the ordinance could be passed before July. “One country, two systems” would then effectively come to an end, bringing catastrophic damage to the city’s political system and economy.