Hong Kong extradition bill: justice chief backs human rights safeguards, but only on ad hoc basis
- Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng says requirement would only be carried out after legislation is passed by Legislative Council
- Government also considering having observers monitor treatment of any fugitives sent abroad to stand trial
Hong Kong’s justice chief on Sunday said the government would consider adding more human rights safeguards to its controversial extradition proposal, including a requirement that a jurisdiction would guarantee a fair trial for fugitives.
Yet, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah also suggested the requirement would not be included in the legislation itself, but only carried out after the Legislative Council approved the bill.
Cheng also said she would think about having observers monitor the treatment of fugitives extradited from Hong Kong. Those observers would respond immediately if a Hongkonger was mistreated after being handed over to another jurisdiction, she added.
“The observer must make use of the judicial system in that place to take immediate judicial action. Hong Kong authorities would also get in touch with the jurisdiction to protest,” Cheng said.
The city’s officials are pushing for a contentious legislative amendment allowing suspects to be transferred to places with which the city does not have an extradition deal, including mainland China.