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Thursday, August 13, 2020, 04:15
HKSAR govt halts extradition deals with Germany, France
By Wang Zhan
Thursday, August 13, 2020, 04:15 By Wang Zhan

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Wednesday said it was suspending its extradition agreement with Germany and shelving a similar treaty with France in accordance with the instruction of the central government.  

In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, the HKSAR government said Germany and France had “politicized juridical cooperation” after Berlin suspended its Surrender of Fugitive Offenders (SFO) agreement with the HKSAR and Paris halted the ratification of a similar agreement after the enactment of the National Security Law. 

ALSO READ: Germany slammed for halting extradition treaty with HKSAR

“Such moves are open interference in China's internal affairs and a violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The HKSAR government firmly objects to the moves of Germany and France,” a government spokesman said.

The HKSAR government said Germany and France had “politicized juridical cooperation” 

“The two countries have politicized juridical co-operation, thereby damaging the basis of juridical co-operation between the HKSAR and Germany and France,” he said.

ALSO READ: HK slams France's move to not ratify fugitive treaty

“For this reason, in accordance with the instruction of the (central government), the HKSAR government has suspended the implementation of the SFO agreement between the HKSAR and Germany and shelved the SFO agreement between the HKSAR and France," he added.

The spokesman said it is an international practice to safeguard national security through the enactment of laws and Germany and France had also put in place similar laws but they had unilaterally halted their extradition agreements with the HKSAR.

The HKSAR signed the SFO agreement with Germany in May 2006, and that with France in May 2017. The SFO agreement between the HKSAR and Germany entered into force in April 2009, while the SFO agreement between the HKSAR and France was still pending before it was shelved.

READ MORE: Fugitive surrender: Facing reality and upholding criminal justice


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