UK could become haven for fugitives, HK warns

Britain could become "a haven for fugitives" who have fled Hong Kong, the SAR administration warned yesterday in the wake of the immediate suspension of the extradition treaty between the two.

Besides London suspending the extradition treaty, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced that an arms embargo on the mainland would be extended to include Hong Kong.

So Britain joins Australia and Canada in halting such treaties with Hong Kong to signal opposition to the national security law.

In response, an SAR spokesman said: "The UK has taken a decision to knowingly allow criminals to evade justice.

"The decision shines a spotlight on the real possibility that the UK will become a haven for fugitives wanted by Hong Kong who are trying to escape legal responsibility."

The spokesman also said the move was "a gross interference in China's internal affairs and a grave violation of international law."

Beijing's ambassador in London, Liu Xiaoming, said the UK could face retribution if it refuses to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs.

Britain has once again tried to disrupt the SAR's national security legislation, he said, adding: "The UK will bear the consequences if it insists on going down the wrong road."

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin urged Britain to "drop the illusion that the influence of colonization will last in Hong Kong."

Britain should correct its mistakes of meddling in Hong Kong affairs lest China-UK relation should worsen further, Wang said. And Beijing "reserves the right" to react to Britain's actions.

Back in London, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived to discuss issues about Hong Kong and China overall as well as 5G with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Johnson ordered last week that Huawei equipment be purged from the UK's 5G network by 2027.

As Britain reshapes its stance on China due to its handling Hong Kong and also the Covid-19 pandemic, Pompeo's visit is to stiffen Johnson's resolve, according to diplomats.

Pompeo is also scheduled to meet Raab, Hong Kong's last governor, Chris Patten, and activist Nathan Law Kwun-chung.

Law, who revealed in early July that he had left the SAR due to "unpredictable risks" of persecution, welcomed the UK's suspension of the extradition treaty.

"I feel that discussion of Hong Kong issues is suddenly heating up [in Britain], creating a cross-political spectrum, cross-party fever," he said on social media.

Law also said he has been meeting "non-stop" with political and media figures in Britain.

In Hong Kong, opposition politicians blamed Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor for essentially turning the SAR into a destination for outlaws by proposing the now-withdrawn fugitive bill in the first place.

Civic Party lawmaker Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu described the bill as a "huge boomerang" that backfired on the administration.

"Officials said the bill was proposed because they didn't want Hong Kong to become a haven for fugitives," he said. "But how can Lam avoid that now as countries worldwide keep suspending extradition treaties with us?"

And Democratic Party legislator Lam Cheuk-ting said mockingly that Lam "successfully fought for" foreign fugitives to escape to the SAR.

But Executive Council member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said the UK's extradition move was political posturing, which would disrupt cooperation on fighting crime and cause damage to Britain itself.

Ip also said that since the handover Britain has extradited 10 fugitives to Hong Kong while the SAR sent eight to the UK.

mandy.zheng@singtaonewscorp.com