National security law: Hong Kong government slams ‘double standards’, ‘interference’ as Britain suspends extradition deal

Spokesman says decision to follow Canada and Australia in suspending agreement could create loophole for criminals attempting to evade justice

He says ‘UK will bear the consequences if it insists on going down the wrong road’

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The Hong Kong government came out firing on Tuesday, a day after British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured) announced the suspension of his country’s extradition treaty with the city. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:11pm, 21 Jul 2020Updated: 11:13pm, 21 Jul 2020

The Hong Kong government has fired back at Britain’s decision to suspend their extradition agreement, accusing the former colonial ruler of double standards, gross interference in mainland China’s internal affairs and violating international law.

In Beijing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also slammed London’s move, threatening Britain with a “forceful counter-attack”, cautioning it to refrain from indulging in “fantasies of continuing colonial influence”.

The strongly worded criticisms came after British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab formally announced on Monday the cut in ties he had signalled over the weekend, along with restrictions on arms sales and reviews of arrangements to send judges to Hong Kong and training programmes for the city’s police officers.

Britain joined Five Eye alliance partners Canada and Australia in suggesting that human rights concerns prompted by the national security law Beijing imposed in Hong Kong on June 30 had opened the door for potential misuse of the extradition agreement.

In strongly opposing the suspension, a Hong Kong government spokesman on Tuesday said every country “has laws and the duty to safeguard its national security and sovereignty”, citing Britain’s own Treason Felony Act, Official Secrets Act, Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act, and Security Service Act.

“The UK’s unilateral suspension of the agreement on surrender of fugitive offenders with Hong Kong for political purposes, using China’s enactment of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR as an excuse, is absolutely a political manipulation of double standards,” he said.