Extradition agreement with mainland China would damage Hong Kong’s ‘safe reputation’ for business, AmCham says
- Chamber says international business community has grave concerns over the mainland’s court system
- Government warned that new fugitive law would make city less competitive
Hong Kong’s most influential American business network has denounced a proposed extradition agreement with mainland China, Taiwan and Macau, warning the government it would damage the city’s reputation as a “secure haven for international business”.
The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) informed the Security Bureau this week that Hong Kong’s international business community had “grave concerns” about the mainland’s legal system, according to a copy of the statement obtained by the Post on Wednesday.
AmCham said the mainland’s “criminal process is plagued by deep flaws, including lack of an independent judiciary, arbitrary detention, lack of fair public trial, lack of access to legal representation and poor prison conditions”.
The chamber called on Hong Kong’s leaders to reconsider the proposal and look at different ways to hand over fugitives.
The statement said: “Any change in extradition arrangements that substantially expands the possibility of arrest and rendition … of international business executives residing in or transiting through Hong Kong as a result of allegations of economic crime made by the mainland government … would undermine perceptions of Hong Kong as a safe and secure haven for international business operations.”
