Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the measure would serve to « protect human rights and the rule of law around the world. » Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: « We have agreed to announce that this National Security Act represents a fundamental change in the circumstances from our extradition agreement with Hong Kong, » he said. Canada was the first country to suspend its extradition agreement with the former British colony and ban the export of sensitive military goods, according to statements on Friday, July 3. ^: Never in force; Ratification of the agreement interrupted Canada and Australia said they would suspend their extradition agreements with Hong Kong in early July. The UK announced its decision last week. Hong Kong Watch is working with the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China to ensure that no one needs to be extradited to Hong Kong, where the rule of law has been seriously compromised following the introduction of the so-called national security law. Hong Kong has concluded several agreements with foreign states on the surrender of fugitive offenders. The term « Convention on the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders » is used instead of the extradition treaty to refer to Hong Kong`s non-sovereign status. [1] As a special administrative region of the People`s Republic of China since July 1997, Hong Kong is authorized by the Central Government of China to conclude such agreements in accordance with Article 96 of the Basic Law. [2] The legality of such an agreement has been challenged in the U.S. state of Connecticut, but the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the Hong Kong-U.S. agreement should be considered a « treaty » under U.S. law. [3] The Foreign Ministry spokesman accuses the countries of « blatant interference in China`s internal affairs. » Hong Kong government figures suggest that 19 countries have signed extradition agreements with the territory, CNA reported. The list includes the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany and several Asian countries, including South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. Johnny Patterson, director of Hong Kong Watch, said: « The new law opens up the possibility that extradited people will not receive a fair trial or even be extradited to the mainland. Existing human rights safeguards in current extradition agreements do not explain how the new legislation threatens Hong Kong`s independent judiciary. In response to Hong Kong`s new national security law – and in particular its claim to apply globally – Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand suspended their extradition agreements with Hong Kong in July. In early August, France decided not to ratify an ongoing extradition agreement with Hong Kong.

The United States had also threatened to terminate its treaty earlier; now it`s official. Later, Mr. Zhao addressed all the countries that have suspended previous agreements with Hong Kong: « By imposing so-called sanctions, they want to force the Chinese government to change our position, but this is just a pipe dream. » Along with New Zealand and the United States, all three countries are part of the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance. The United States has signaled that it wants to suspend its extradition agreement with Hong Kong. The Philippines, India, Singapore, The Czech Republic, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Portugal, South Korea and South Africa have also concluded extradition agreements with Hong Kong. The Taiwanese government recently warned its citizens to reconsider insignificant trips to China, Hong Kong and Macau. Politicians have also warned that comments on issues such as Hong Kong`s independence could lead to legal problems in other countries. The United States has ended its extradition deal with Hong Kong, the latest move to put pressure on Beijing after imposing a controversial national security law on the former British territory. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK « will not consider reactivating these agreements unless there are clear and strong safeguards that can prevent the UK`s extradition from being abused under the new national security legislation ».

You also said the law violated an agreement with the UK before Hong Kong – a former British colony – was ceded to China in 1997. China said Hong Kong would suspend extradition treaties with Britain, Canada and Australia after taking similar steps regarding the controversial new law on territorial security. On August 19, the U.S. State Department announced that Washington was ending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, as well as an agreement on tax exemptions for international ships. It was the latest move to implement US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo`s May 27 statement that Hong Kong should no longer be considered autonomous. German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass said: « The Hong Kong government`s decision to disqualify 12 opposition candidates and postpone elections to the Legislative Council is another violation of the rights of Hong Kong citizens.