BEIJING/HONG KONG -  The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's government said the city is suspending extradition and judiciary assistance agreements with Canada, Australia and the UK in accordance with the instruction of the central government. 

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In a statement issued on Tuesday, a spokesman for the HKSAR government spokesman said it strongly objected the decisions by the Canada, Australia and the UK governments to unilaterally suspended the agreements on surrender of fugitive offenders with the HKSAR using the enactment of the National Security Law in Hong Kong as an excuse. 

"It smacks of political manipulation and double standards. It is also a gross interference in China's internal affairs and a grave violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations," the spokesman said.

The wrongful act of Canada, Australia and the UK in politicizing juridical cooperation has seriously damaged the basis of juridical cooperation between the HKSAR and these three countries.

Spokesman, HKSAR government

The spokesman said that it is an international practice to safeguard national security through the enactment of laws, adding that Canada, Australia and the UK have respectively put in place relevant legislation and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding their national security and sovereignty.

"The wrongful act of Canada, Australia and the UK in politicizing juridical cooperation has seriously damaged the basis of juridical cooperation between the HKSAR and these three countries," the spokesman said. And for that reason, the HKSAR government, in accordance with the instruction of the central government, has suspended the implementation of extradition agreements with these three countries, respectively.

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China announced Tuesday the suspension of Hong Kong's extradition treaties with Canada, Australia, and the UK in response to the similar decisions by these countries, said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The three countries all expressed their concern over the newly enacted National Security Law for the HKSAR nabefore announcing the suspension of their extradition treaties with Hong Kong.

According to Wang, the moves were gross interference in China's internal affairs and a severe violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations.

"The wrong action of Canada, Australia, and the UK in politicizing judicial cooperation with Hong Kong has seriously hurt the basis of judicial cooperation," said Wang.

With inputs from chinadaily.com.cn