Mainland Chinese officials come out in support of Hong Kong’s controversial extradition law
- ‘It not only ought to be done, but also ought to be done early,’ says Basic Law Committee vice-chairman
- Bill’s backers cite Basic Law stipulation of judicial cooperation with other parts of China, saying that applies to Taiwan too
Two senior mainland Chinese officials voiced support for a contentious extradition bill in Hong Kong on Saturday, echoing the local government that it was urgently needed to close legal loopholes and bring justice to the victims of crime.
Zhang Yong, vice-chairman of the Basic Law Committee, and Chen Dong, deputy director of Beijing’s liaison office in the city, made the remarks at a forum celebrating the 29th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
The bill would amend existing laws to allow transfers on a case-by-case basis to all jurisdictions that the city is yet to sign an extradition deal with, including Taiwan and the mainland. Top Hong Kong officials have stressed the urgency to pass the law, claiming it is needed to allow the transfer of Chan Tong-kai from the city to Taiwan, where he is wanted for killing his girlfriend.
But the bill has stalled in the Legislative Council amid pan-democrat filibusters. Opponents of the bill worry about unfair trials and a lack of human rights protections north of the border. Tens of thousands of Hongkongers took to the streets last month to call for the scrapping of the proposal.
“My stance is clear. I support the government proposal,” Zhang said before the forum started.