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Hong Kong Security Bureau under fire from lawmakers for not revealing public feedback on controversial extradition bill
- Bureau says two-thirds of public submissions were in favour of bill
- But lawmakers and the press want all feedback made public
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Hong Kong’s Security Bureau has been criticised for applying “double standards” after it rejected a request from the Post to reveal the public feedback it collected on the city’s controversial extradition proposal.
Lawmakers said last week that revealing the nearly 4,500 written submissions gathered through the consultation process would provide a better understanding of public opinion on the beleaguered bill, which would allow the transfer of fugitives to jurisdictions which the city lacks an extradition treaty, including mainland China.
“The government has always claimed that the proposal won majority support in the consultation process, but apparently it does not want to let people know how it is supported,” said Charles Mok, a pan-democratic lawmaker for the information technology sector.
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The Security Bureau in February allowed members of public to submit their views within 20 days after it presented the fugitive bill. In doing so, it dismissed the need to conduct a formal public consultation.
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The bureau later announced that two-thirds of the submissions were in favour of the extradition proposal. The alleged support for the bill would have come despite heavy criticism by pan-democrats and the business community over fears it would expose people to unfair trials.
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