Don’t let extradition proposal dent business faith in judicial system, Hong Kong finance chief Paul Chan tells worried sector

Hongkongers should adopt a wider perspective on judicial independence instead of being influenced by individual cases, the city’s finance chief has said as he attempted to allay business sector fears over an extradition treaty with mainland China.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Saturday addressed concerns that a proposed deal with the mainland would undermine Hong Kong’s status as an international business hub. Critics said the arrangement could be used to target executives in the city with allegations of economic crime.

Speaking on a radio programme, Chan said the city’s judicial system would be the gatekeeper on the matter. “There are some safeguards. For example, the suspected offences need to be criminal ones on both sides. There is also an appeal system.”

Extradition agreement would damage ‘safe reputation’ for business: AmCham

“I hope everyone can understand that when we are considering Hong Kong’s rule of law and judicial independence, we should look at it with a wider perspective.

“We should withdraw ourselves and not be obscured by one or two recent and hotly debated cases in society,” he added.

Chan cited various studies conducted by international organisations to suggest Hong Kong ranked high in judicial independence. Referring to a World Economic Forum study, he said the city had placed first in Asia for three years running in this category.

“I understand that the special arrangement of ‘one country, two systems’, rule of law and judicial independence are very important,” he said, adding it was too early to estimate how many foreign businesses would be deterred by the proposed extradition deal.

Chan’s comments came after the American Chamber of Commerce warned that the agreement could damage the city’s reputation as a “secure haven for international business”.

Business heavyweights in Hong Kong, including former No 2 government official Henry Tang Ying-yen and incoming chairman of the Trade Development Council Peter Lam Kin-ngok also joined the chorus of criticism.

‘No extradition deal with Hong Kong if it implies Taiwan is part of China’

But Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu on Thursday dismissed the suggestion that 15 white-collar crimes be exempted from the 46 offences covered by the extradition proposal, as had earlier been demanded by the city’s major pro-business parties, the Liberal Party and the Business and Professionals Alliance.

On Saturday, Chan said Lee would continue to allay public concerns and collect views from different parties. He said he believed Lee had listened to the commerce sector and would seriously consider opinions.

Officials claimed the proposal was aimed at sealing off loopholes exposed by a homicide case last year in which Taiwanese authorities were unable to extradite a Hongkonger accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend in Taipei.

The young man only faced charges in Hong Kong for stealing from the woman's bank account and remains in custody pending trial.

On a separate radio show, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah said he welcomed opinions on the matter, but added that the fears stemmed from misunderstanding.

“Every place faces such problems. The legal systems on both sides are different so there will be a lot of limitations,” he added.

Separately, Chan also commented on a new law under discussion in Beijing that may level the playing field for foreign investors, as the central government fends off complaints about unfair trade practices.

Backers of the mainland legislation expect it to promote foreign investment and protect interests.

Speaking after the radio programme, Chan said the measures would play a role in the opening up and reform of China’s economy, especially amid the US-China trade war.

“For Hong Kong, which acts as one of the important springboards or a bridge for foreign investments to enter the mainland, we can benefit from this,” he said.