Hong Kong extradition bill: Only China’s supreme court should be able to request transfer of fugitives, lawmaker says
- Financial services sector legislator Christopher Cheung argues China’s rule of law weakens as it reaches provincial and municipal levels
- Cheung had earlier suggested narrowing scope of offences to those entailing a minimum prison sentence of seven to 10 years
The power to request a fugitive be sent from Hong Kong to mainland China should rest solely with the country’s supreme court, a lawmaker has said of a contentious extradition bill.
“China has adopted the rule of law. But policies made by the central government are often distorted when they reach the provincial and municipal levels,” said financial services sector legislator Christopher Cheung Wah-fung, a member of the Business and Professionals Alliance, on Friday.
“That’s why I have suggested that only the Supreme People’s Court should have the power to initiate an extradition request [if the bill is passed].”
The controversial bill drew heated debate at the city leader’s monthly question and answer session in the Legislative Council on Thursday.
The bill would allow case-by-case transfers of fugitives between Hong Kong and jurisdictions the city lacks a long-term agreement with, including mainland China and Taiwan.