News / China

Hong Kong launches new extradition laws with mainland China

Wednesday, 03 April 2019 8:34 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 03 April 2019 8:45 AM ]

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (C) holds an engagement session with Hong Kong members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at Central Government Offices on Feb 14, 2019.

Hong Kong has introduced to the parliament new extradition laws under which people wanted in mainland China would be sent there for trial, despite protests against the move.

The laws, presented to the Legislative Council on Wednesday, give the right to Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam to order the extradition of wanted offenders to China as well as other countries not covered by the city’s current extradition treaties.

Lam said her government would make no further amendments before introducing the laws to the parliament.

The extradition order, however, could be challenged and appealed against through courts, officials said.

The laws will be debated by a council committee and are expected to be passed later this year.

Former British colony Hong Kong was returned to China after about a century in 1979. Its legislative, executive, and judicial bodies are already separate from and independent of China, and Beijing only maintains authority in defense, foreign affairs, and constitutional disputes.

The change in extradition laws has sparked protests in the city, with opponents arguing that the laws may be abused to extradite alleged political dissidents to China.

On Saturday, a demonstration was held in Hong Kong to protest the move.

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