HONG KONG / BEIJING - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday said it suspended extradition and legal assistance agreements with the United States (US) in accordance with the instruction of the central government.

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, an HKSAR government spokesman said it issued a notice to the Consulate General of the US in Hong Kong to suspend the implementation of the agreement for the surrender of fugitive offenders (SFO) and the agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

The spokesman said the HKSAR government had received a notice from the US consulate on August 18 for the suspension of the SFO agreement and two more pacts concerning the transfer of sentenced persons and tax exemptions from the income derived from the international operation of ships. 

“The move by the US does not only smack of political manipulation and double standards, but is also gross interference in China's internal affairs and a grave violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations,” the spokesman was quoted as saying in the statement.

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 “The HKSAR government strongly objects to the US's move. It has politicized juridical co-operation, thereby seriously damaging the basis of juridical co-operation between the HKSAR and the US," he added.

The HKSAR government spokesman pointed out that the US could not use the enactment of the National Security Law as an excuse for its unilateral moves

The HKSAR government spokesman pointed out that the US could not use the enactment of the National Security Law as an excuse for its unilateral moves. 

He noted that the US had also enacted laws that safeguard national security and sovereignty like its National Security Act, the USA Patriot Act, Logan Act, and the Homeland Security Act.

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In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China decided that the HKSAR should suspend the MLA agreement in response to the US side's erroneous moves. 

Zhao reiterated that Hong Kong affairs are entirely China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference.

"China urges the US side to immediately correct its wrong decision, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's other internal affairs, and not go further and further down the wrong path," he said.

With inputs from Xinhua